Edwards lumps Hillary and Obama's plans together, rather than singling one of them out. He's confident as well. Back to Obama. He aligns himself with Edwards and on free trade, disagrees with HIllary. Says he disagrees with Edwards on Peru and gets way too specific for a tv audience in my opinion.
Wolf cuts him off and goes to Hillary saying he wants to get back on topic. Hillary says she has more to say on her tax plan, in response to Obama's plan. She gets applause. Talks about Bush's plan causing havoc with the stock market today. She continues to rail against Bush. Wolf is trying to get her to finish. (There are no time limits in this hour.)
Edwards seizes the ball and stays on trade to respond to Obama -- goes back to Peru and critizes Obama's plan. Obama responds. The audience claps for him. Mentions his 3 1/2 years as a community organizer in Chicago. Edwards has sucked him in to debating him instead of Hillary.
Suzanne Malveaux asks Obama to respond to comments of Hillary last week on his economic plan. He responds by saying Hillary and Bill are not being factually accurate. Moves to the war and fairy tale story (huh? This wasn't the question.)
Hillary goes after Obama: He has said he really liked the ideas of the Republicans over the past 15 years. Offers to give the audience the quotes. She says she agrees the Republicans have had ideas, but they are bad ideas.
Hillary hits Obama on how he would pay for his plan. Says his record is empty on that. No one is saying he didn't oppose war in Iraq in the beginning. Lays out the timing of how he stopped. Distrinction between words and action.
Obama: attacks Hillary for being a corporate lawyer at Walmart while he was a community organizer.
He's spent a lifetime fighting Ronald Reagan's policies. (A lifetime?)
It's down and dirty now, this is turning into a free for all. Wolf struggles for control.
Edwards reminds everyone that there are three people in this debate. Criticizes the squabbling. Returns to the question which was about fiscal responsibility. He has the high road tonight and is doing great.
He aligns himself with Obama on social security. Differentiates them from Hillary. Gets bogged down in specific numbers.
They are staying on the economy. Goes to Edwards and asks about the mortgage crisis affecting African-Americans. This is Edwards turf and he gives a direct and well received answer.
Gives the specifics of his plan on this.
Update [2008-1-21 20:43:29 by Big Tent Democrat]: Obama seems to be losing a bit of steam to me. He seems to try and hit Hillary on the bankruptcy bill but the attack seemed convoluted and flat.
Asked by Wolf about Rezko. Obama gives an answer that frankly, I am not sure what it meant. Then Obama says truth matters, and I am not sure where it goes.
Hillary responds to bankruptcy bill attack. Says she regretted it. Then pivots and attacks on credit card interest rates piece of bankruptcy bill. Then charges that Obama likes to dish it out but can not take it.
Seems like a fair charge.
Obama fumbles his response to Hillary's charge on interest rates on credit card debt. Edwards zings - no ceiling is better than a 30% ceiling?
Hillary zings properly. He take no responsibility for his votes.
Update [2008-1-21 20:45:56 by Big Tent Democrat]: Long explanations on present votes is not that helpful to Obama in my opinion. the fact is he has more uanswered questions. This is bad terrain for him.
Update [2008-1-21 20:48:1 by Big Tent Democrat]: Edwards goes after Obama on his double standard for going after votes. Good for Edwards.
Update [2008-1-21 20:53:7 by Big Tent Democrat]: Hilary strongly defends, and quite well, the concept of mandates for reaching universal health care. Nicely done.
Obama asked if his plan proivides health care for illegal immigrants. Obama say no. Why? Scarcity of resources.
Update: (TL) John Edwards points out that none of their plans include the undocumented.
New Live thread here.
