Jan. 31st CNN Dem debate in California **live commentary thread**

[Mr. Morden]

Democratic debate in Los Angeles, CA tonight.  Hosted by CNN, the Politico, and the LA Times.  Begins at 8pm Eastern on CNN.  This will be one-on-one Clinton vs. Obama.  The final scheduled primary debate for either party.  (Depending on what happens on Super Tuesday, we may or may not get some more debates this primary season.)  Live commentary here.

[Mr. Morden]

Bump.  Are you all excited for the most important debate of the entire primary season?  Will we get some more Wal-mart vs. slum lord?

[Flying Dog]

Obama needs to lure Clinton into more fights. She loses control and looks like a total b!tch when she gets mad. However, he can't look like he's bullying her.

[Angel of Death]

No, he needs to come across as both presidential and substantive.

[Verily]

Bump.  Are you all excited for the most important debate of the entire primary season?  Will we get some more Wal-mart vs. slum lord?

I'd be surprised if we don't get Wal-Mart, given the video ABC News came out with (and it's key for Obama to win over union households that supported Edwards). Whether Clinton tries to counter it with slum lord is less certain.

Pity Gravel won't be there. That would be hilarious.

[Speed of Sound]

No, he needs to come across as both presidential and substantive.

Agreed. He needs to stay on message. Every second he doesnt sound like he did in Columbia is a second lost.

[Flying Dog]

No, he needs to come across as both presidential and substantive.

Yeah, that too. But we need some fighting or else it would just look like a Republican debate.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

No, he needs to come across as both presidential and substantive.

Yeah, that too. But we need some fighting or else it would just look like a Republican debate.

Because nothing guarentees electoral success as surely as open and bitter infighting!!!!1111111

[Eraserhead]

I don't think Obama should attack Clinton too much tonight. He already has momentum on his side.

[Aizen]

Damn, I'm gonna miss this. I'll be at an Obama rally with esteemed actor Dule Hill.

[perdedor]

Wow. They just showed a shot of some people out side of the debate, for every one Clinton sign...there were 5 Obama signs. His supporters are certainly the more motivated.

[Flying Dog]

Wow. They just showed a shot of some people out side of the debate, for every one Clinton sign...there were 5 Obama signs. His supporters are certainly the more motivated.

And in Los Angeles, no less.

[Gabu]

When does this debate start?

[Mr. Morden]

Begins at 8pm Eastern on CNN.

[Eraserhead]

When does this debate start?

8 PM eastern time.

[Gabu]

Begins at 8pm Eastern on CNN.

Sorry, I'm new to this whole reading thing.

[Eraserhead]

CNN seems to think this is a boxing match.

[Aizen]

Round 1.... FIGHT!

[Eraserhead]

Perhaps Obama should mention that it will be important to get Indy votes against McCain... and that Clinton won't be able to do it.

[perdedor]

Perhaps Obama should mention that it will be important to get Indy votes against McCain... and that Clinton won't be able to do it.

Very true. Clinton will have enough of a problem getting an average amount of Democratic voters...much less the independent vote.

[Lief 🗽]

I hope Obama doesn't screw up. The momentum's already on his side...

[Joe Biden 2020]

I think this one is supposed to last two hours.

I am looking for Obama to attack Clinton more on the war.  I look for Obama to point out Wal-Mart.  The economy will undoubtedly be a big issue, and probably the biggest issue.  I look for them to play a quick game of "My endorsements are bigger than your endorsements" like Romney and McCain played last night early.  I look for Clinton to continue to hammer Obama on his votes in the Illinois legislature.  I also look for both candidates to try to court the Edwards supporters and those Kucinich supporters who haven't gone over to Obama, yet.  I look for a bunch of hispanic and latino issues to be discussed tonight.  I also look for clarity on how they will handle the California wildfire damage as well as other national disasters, such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita from 2005.

Overall, I think Obama will win the debate tonight and gain even more momentum heading into Super Tuesday and the states that vote later on in February.  He already has the momentum on his side, but he shouldn't take it for granted, and he won't.

[Reluctant Republican]

Obama gets way more applause then Hillary.

[Mr. Morden]

It seems like Chelsea attends every single debate.

[Reluctant Republican]

Which one of these two is going negative first? I'm thinking Hillary, she knows she needs to.