Jan. 31st CNN Dem debate in California **live commentary thread**

[John Dibble]

Hmm, the real time reaction seemed to favor Hillary's opening better. Maybe the participants favor Hillary - we'll see.

[John Dibble]

I'm definitely thinking the real-time responders are in favor of Clinton coming into this.

[John Dibble]

You need to get the idea that this is likely stacked by Hillary supporters

Agreed, I don't see Obama as performing any worse than Hillary is, in fact he's doing a bit better than in previous debates, yet he's not doing as well as her on the tracker. In previous debates he didn't do so badly against her on the trackers.

[John Dibble]

Obama has mentioned a couple of good senior issues - should help him among those voters.

[John Dibble]

Hillary was in "Atlanta last night". Why though?

Because our airport is a hub - she didn't stop to campaign.

[John Dibble]

The tracker people piss me off - they dip into a slight negative when Obama starts and hasn't even said anything.

[John Dibble]

The tracker people piss me off - they dip into a slight negative when Obama starts and hasn't even said anything.

Just flip to the debate itself - that's what I did.

I still want to see if Obama can convert a few of them.

[John Dibble]

This is pretty much the nicest debate I've ever watched.

I think Hillary is afraid going negative will hurt her, and Obama is afraid going negative will make him look hypocritical. They've both taken a few swipes, but no real solid blows.

[John Dibble]

CNN talking about their own tracker response...

[John Dibble]

Eh, I'm gonna have to give the edge to Hillary on that question, personally.

[John Dibble]

Hillary just mentioned "The first woman president" - playing the gender card?

[John Dibble]

wtf is Clinton saying for this question?  I completely forgot what the question even was in listening to her talk.

The question was about the Ted Kennedy endorsement and Obama being like JFK.

[John Dibble]

Bad question on Clinton-Bush for last 28 years.

Not a fair question

True it's not fair, but it is true that she's trying to be part of a dynasty. Let's just say it evens out with the biased tracker.

[John Dibble]

Bad question on Clinton-Bush for last 28 years.

Not a fair question

True it's not fair, but it is true that she's trying to be part of a dynasty. Let's just say it evens out with the biased tracker.

Doesn't even come close to balancing out.

Yeah, we need a few more anti-Clinton questions.

[John Dibble]

Oh, even the tracker didn't like Clinton on that question.

[John Dibble]

Someone should ask the Democrats.  Do you want to win, or do you want to withdraw?

I'm pretty sure we did win - after all, Saddam Hussein is dead.

[John Dibble]

lol @ Clinton. She is so full of it on Iraq.

Even the tracker isn't reacting well for her.

[John Dibble]

I think the tracker isn't as much in Hillary's favor anymore - still favors her, just not as much. She really didn't do as well with it on the Iraq issue.

[John Dibble]

Barack "rejects the notion of censorship". FF.

FF indeed.

[John Dibble]

HILLARY CACKLED

I can imagine her doing that after swearing in, just longer and even more maniacally.

[John Dibble]

Oh, the tracker really liked "no more yes men" - got to 90.

[John Dibble]

"I agree" - very decisive response from Clinton.

[John Dibble]

My analysis - Obama wins, but not by a large margin. On the policy discussions he pretty much tied with Clinton, though she might have had a slight edge. He was much stronger in the second half of the debate, especially on Iraq.

[John Dibble]

In the last 30 minutes of the debate, which was all I watched, Hillary handled herself extremely well and dominated.

Yes, "I agree with everything Obama just said" was a clear sign of her dominance over that portion of the debate.