Nosing around the world of blogs in the wake of last night's lively Democratic party debate shows a bit of uncertainty at what the long-term effects will be on Hillary Clinton. But that doesn't stop bloggers having strong opinions about the result. Read on....
Over at the Hotline On Call, the view was: "HRC held up relatively well, save two awkward and dodgy answers to questions about the transparency of National Archives records of her time as First Lady and whether she would back governor Eliot Spitzer's plan to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants."
Steve Benen's Carpetbagger Report was less convinced by Clinton's performance, especially by her hesitent answer on immigration: "Clinton actually slipped a little, and actually made a mistake ... She said the plan makes a lot of sense, and defended Spitzer's efforts, but then isn't sure if the idea is any good? Clinton supports the policy, but won't endorse the policy?"
One blogger on MyDD saw a clear winner: "From my perspective, as a member of neither party, Edwards won. He came out swinging at Hillary and connected with some pretty good punches. And he is fine-tuning his populist, 'us against them' message that Iowans found so appealing 4 years ago. Like any good trial lawyer, he closes strong."
Blue State also liked Edwards' performance: "As I write this, many of the pundits are writing that Obama won the debate. I would say that overall John Edwards got the edge - although barely. He was much more forceful, and came across as the more charismatic one. Obama was strong as well, and had a moment when he physically turned towards Clinton and accused her of doublespeak."
At Rightwing Nuthouse, Hillary Clinton's answers were, well, Clintonesque: "Do we see a pattern here? She has successfully made Bush's policies in Iraq the issue not what she will do about the place once she gets into office. Perfect triangulation. If Clinton loses any ground because of this flap I will be shocked."
The Marathon Pundit was similarly puzzled: "HRC also couldn't give a straight answer on why her correspondence as First Lady with President Clinton, with whom I believe she still lives with, on why those documents, currently in the hands of the National Archives, won't be released until 2012."
Over at the right-wing National Review Online, they declared Hillary the winner. So much so that one blogger was moved to write: "What depresses me about tonight's debate is not merely that Hillary Clinton is the strongest and most adult person on the stage - it's also the possibility that the same thing might at least look true if she were parachuted into the GOP debate."
