Last night, the Democrats debated for the second time in six days; this time, on the campus of Cleveland State University, in Cleveland, Ohio.
The contest between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton kicked off at 9 p.m. EST, and from the starting gun, it appeared that cool heads would prevail all night long.
Throughout the debate, both Obama and Clinton gave a fairly consistent showing. Though, from the beginning Sen. Clinton presented further reason to call this election, thus far, a kindergarten squabble.
After complaining about receiving the opening question, the senator from New York thought it relevant to bring up Obama's Saturday Night Live skit. Her intention was to point out that the media favors the Illinois senator because of his charisma and youth.
"Maybe we should ask Barack if he's comfortable," Clinton quipped, a reference to Obama's November appearance on SNL.
With Obama carrying momentum and the lead into the key states of Texas and Ohio, Clinton desperately needed to win the Ohio debate decisively.While health care has proven to be a hot button issue over the course of this presidential nomination season, the arguments seem to have become stale in recent discussions, especially last night.
Both Clinton and Obama recite the same lines about their health care plan each time they get together to debate, and every time, the other comes back with the same criticisms as before.
Though Obama seemed poised through most of the night, he hit a snag when asked about Louis Farrakhan's recent support of the senator from Illinois. Obama handled the issue well upon first mention, but when moderator Tim Russert asked Sen. Obama if he rejects Farrakhan's support, the senator danced around the issue.
"Well, Tim, I can't say to somebody that he can't say that he thinks I'm a good guy," Obama said, receiving chuckles from the audience.
Obama faced another possible slip up when he seemingly diverted a question about Russia's political situation to Hillary Clinton. Lucky for Obama, Clinton saved him by not handling the question well herself.
She wasn't even able to pronounce the name of Russia's next president, Dmitry Medvedev. After being corrected by Russert, Sen. Clinton passed off her inability to pronounce Medvedev with a casual "whatever."
The debate started out appearing that it would be a one-horse show, with Obama taking home the prize. But, as the night went along, the contest leveled out as Clinton gained composure throughout the debate.
The final debate before the next big batch of primaries on March 4, last night was evenly matched, exactly what Sen. Clinton didn't want or need.
With Obama carrying momentum and the lead into the key states of Texas and Ohio, Clinton desperately needed to win the Ohio debate decisively, if she is to turn the tides.







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