If she does really well tonight or if Obama makes a mistake, maybe she will win big in Ohio (where's she is still ahead) and small in TX and also win RI.

I just got off a shift at headquarters and made lots of calls and let me tell you there are still a lot of undecideds out there. For those of you with passion, get over to HillaryClinton.com and volunteer to make calls! I truly feel that in talking to these people you can make a difference! I spoke to many people who still weren't sure. I asked them about their issues to and made my own case for Hillary. Most of these calls ended very positively. One thing to note, the Clinton Campaign does not sanction any negative politicking....was chastised a bit for something I said....but at the same time applauded for my passion.

By the way, they give you some talking points to get started...Give it a try... Even if you have already had your primary, you can help this way. We had neighboring states volunteers calling headquarters....This is the first time I have ever volunteered because I had to Do Something!!!!

I guess it's not about the policy discussion; it's about watching the candidates demeanor.  I suppose that goes all the way back to Kennedy/Nixon in 1960.

Anyone know if they'll be sitting?  Supposedly candidates tend to be less aggressive when sitting.

While I think Hillary has waged an pretty inept campaign, I'd almost certainly prefer her over Obama as President.  That said, she certainly doesn't have many friends in the media.

BTW, Jeralyn, I'll be drunkblogging the debate tonight, too.  You'll win on points, I'm sure -- but I'll win on cocktails.

You can peruse the comments in this thread along with others and see the rationalizations.

I just read a New York Observer interview of Leon Panetta, a long-time friend of the Clintons.

http://www.observer.com/2008/panettas-lament-they-had-no-plan

From his perspective, the mistakes were made early on when Clinton and her advisers misread the pulse of the nation.

Mr. Penn "comes from an old school, like Karl Rove--it's all about dividing people into smaller groups rather than taking the broader approach that was needed."

One damning quote is "for the money they brought in" the Clinton campaign "should have done a much better job."

Another is:

"It seems to me like they rolled the dice on Super Tuesday, thinking that would end it," he said. "And when it didn't end it, they didn't have a plan. And when it came to the caucus states, they did have a plan--which was to ignore them. I think those were serious mistakes."

It reminds me of the Bush invasion of Iraq.  Assume we win with no problems and then ignore anyone who warns of needing a contingency plan.

In the face of an antagonistic MSM, Democrats were ready to vote for Clinton at the beginning of 2008.  Obama hasn't worked harder than Clinton, but his campaign has been a lot better than hers.

And I know a lot of us are nervous for HRC--with so much ridding on tonight and the expectations of supporters to nail him.  But I rather think she likes the fight and won't be nervous at all.

Remember during the whole Walmart/Rezko scuffle when she said (with a smile) "We're just getting started."  I think she's ready and looking forward to it.  I on the other hand will be nursing a stiff drink :)

Clinton and Obama faced off last Thursday at a presidential debate in Austin, Texas, hosted by CNN and the Spanish-language network Univision. The poll suggests the debate gave Obama a boost.

"Among the one-third of Texas Democratic primary voters who watched all or most of the debate, Obama leads Clinton by 20 points," said CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider.

"Among the 42 percent who followed news about the debate, Clinton and Obama are neck and neck. And among the one-quarter of Texas Democrats who paid no attention to the debate, Clinton leads Obama by nearly 20 points.

"Is this because Obama appeals to better-educated Democrats and they were more likely to watch the debate? No. Even among college-educated Democrats, the more attention you paid to the debate, the better Obama does."

I just remembered that the best "debate" I ever saw was just before the NY primary in 1992, I think it was late May or so, and Phil Donahue had on the only two remaining candidates, Jerry Brown, and BC.  

Remember his 'heartfelt apology'? for insulting Hillary Clinton on Hardball?  

To refresh your memory, he said:

If my heart has not always controlled my words, on those occasions when I have not taken the time to say things right, or have simply said the inappropriate thing, I'll try to be clearer, smarter, more obviously in support of the right of women -- of all people -- the full equality and respect for their ambitions. So, I get it.

Does he really get it? It hasn't seemed so, and now we can be sure. No. He does NOT.

In the LA Times Tweety said:
"They created the storm; I had to deal with it," he said. "I think any observant person would say what I said was true. It might have been said better, more felicitously."

Really? How would that sound? Remember what he said...How does one say this "more felicitously"??

Matthews most egregious insult:
Let's not forget -- and I'll be brutal -- the reason she's a U.S. senator, the reason she's a candidate for president, the reason she may be a front-runner is her husband messed around. That's how she got to be senator from New York. We keep forgetting it.

She didn't win there on her merit. She won because everybody felt, "My God, this woman stood up under humiliation," right? That's what happened.

Media matters has the whole ugly truth.