Dodd endorses Obama

It is not a shock that another major Democratic candidate is endorsing Barack Obama. What is surprising is that as close a Clinton ally as Christopher Dodd is about to do so. And it appears he plans on more than an endorsement, but active campaigning for the Illinois Senator.

It's unclear what Dodd's task will be with the campaign or whether he'll be hitting those last two New England states still awaiting primaries next week. But if Obama eventually gets the nomination, Connecticut's two senators will be in opposing campaigns. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman is one of Republican Sen. John McCain's staunchest allies.

Of course, what is most likely going on here is a carefully orchestrated signal from Centrist Democrats to Senator Clinton that it may be time to wave the white flag and drop out. How long until someone does so in a more clear and public way?

Democratic Debate Thoughts

I enjoyed watching the Democratic debate last night. Even as a Republican, I thought it was entertaining and informative. It was a good event for introducing our country to the candidates. MSNBC did a nice job of keeping the discussion moving and asking relevant questions.

As to my reactions to specific candidates. I believe that the biggest loser last night was Bill Richardson. I had thought that he would be a good candidate for the Democrats who could bridge the party and country back to the Clinton years without having all the negative baggage that Hillary Clinton has. But Richardson looked tired and unmotivated last night. He did not look like someone who would be a legitimate presidential nominee. I’m not saying this ended his presidential run, but he needs to turn around his campaign after that poor performance last night. I thought the wisest answers came from Joe Biden and Dennis Kucinich. Biden did a good job of answering the questions that were asked of him, but didn’t feel like he had to fill his 1 minute of allotted time. If the answer to a question took him 45 seconds, he ended there. If it could be answered in a sentence, then he ended there. Dennis Kucinich’s answers were the most well thought out and consistent with what he professes and is know to believe. (Except his assertion that he is the known for being a healer. Has anyone ever heard of him being someone who can bring people of different points of view together for the common good?)
Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama each did fine, but neither were fantastic. The one thing I would have liked to have seen out of Obama is for him to have a moment where he was inspiring. That is his reported strength and last night, he was not able to come across as inspiring. Chris Dodd did a nice job and his best statement, which should become his theme, was “We don’t need another President who needs years of on the job training.” Mike Gravel played an important American political role. He was decidedly politically left of everyone else on stage, but he is a true believer who is consistent in his ideology. He is a good tool for the other Democratic presidential candidates to use to sharpen their own words and positions as they react to his. Gravel did come off as “not mainstream” enough to be a serious contender, but that is not his role. John Edwards did fine, but did nothing to distinguish himself from the other candidates.

Tune in to MSNBC next Thursday to see the Republican candidates for President.

SurveyUSA says Obama won the Democratic Candidates Debate

Vote your own opinion on the Mod-Blog poll, but the early consensus seems to be that Obama won the debate. We watched about half of the debate (Well, I did, CRChair watched about 3/4 of it). I agree that Barack Obama came across well, and definitely presidential, but I do not think he changed any minds. My analysis of Hillary Clinton is that she did not make any missteps, but also did not distinguish herself. As a woman who cultivates the image of being the most qualified person in the country for the job, she just seemed like another candidate on the platform and nothing special. I thought that the big winners for the night in terms of changing minds might be Chris Dodd and Dennis Kucinich. Dodd came across as capable, presidential, and well-thought-out. Not necesarily the best man for the job, but one that you would be unashamed to represent you on the world stage. Kucinich came across as not quite the fringe wacko that he seemed in the last campaign, and defended his positions well, even if he was significantly to the Left of most Americans. As for the rest, they either seemed overly timid (Richardson) or mildly deranged (Gravel).

What are your thoughts? Did you even bother to see the debate or catch the replays on YouTube or the Evening News?