By host Tom Ashbrook:
The first early votes are still half a year away, but this is a big week for Democratic Party and GOP presidential debates. Last night in New Hampshire, eight Democratic contenders for the party’s nomination took the stage.
Hillary Clinton was cool, front and center. Obama was toughening up. Edwards was on the attack. Kucinich and Gravel kept it lively. Biden was impassioned. And Iraq was all over the exchange.
This hour On Point: We go inside the Democrat’s debate, run the highlights, track the issues, and ask who’s got the right stuff.
Quotes from the Show:
“At this point, there is a clear hierarchy. … It’s still only June of 2007. … But at this point, there is some obvious structure to this race.” Dan Balz
“I think it’s all about Iraq. The other issues are secondary.” Mitch, listener from Iowa
“There is a difference between protesting the war and legislating the end to the war. … The reality of the legislative arena is that this can’t happen instantly. … What comes across if you’re a voter is that two or three people up there are ready to be president.” Eleanor Clift
“She [Hilary Clinton] tried to play leader of the pack. She wants to be seen as a figure big enough to unite the party.” Ron Brownstein
Guests:
Dan Balz, national political correspondent, The Washington Post
Ron Brownstein, national affairs columnist, Los Angeles Times, and author of the forthcoming book, “The Second Civil War: How Extreme Partisanship Has Paralyzed Washington and Polarized America”
Eleanor Clift, contributing editor and “Capitol Letter” columnist for Newsweek
Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst and senior editor, The Atlantic Monthly.
