Or at least it tries to do so, on the evidence of Wednesday’s Times post-debate full court press.
Read on for more:
Hillary Clinton’s Democratic Debate Magic
I never doubted that Hillary Clinton had many talents.
I just didn’t know that seamstress was among them.
There were moments in the first Democratic presidential debate on Tuesday night when she threaded the needle as delicately and perfectly as a politician could.
The debate’s moderator, Anderson Cooper, noted that she’d told some audiences that she was a progressive but extolled her moderation in front of others. Wasn’t she just a chameleon, flashing whatever colors suited her at a given moment?
“I’m a progressive, but I’m a progressive who likes to get things done,” she said strongly but not stridently. “I know how to find common ground and I know how to stand my ground.” It was a practiced line — so practiced that she used it, somewhat awkwardly, a second time an hour later. But it was also a well-crafted line.
—snip—
For much of the debate, Sanders somehow came across as the embattled incumbent, targeted by the other four candidates, while Clinton came across as the energetic upstart.
He seemed bowed, irascible. She seemed buoyant, effervescent. It was as poised a performance as she’s finessed in a long time, and while I’ve just about given up making predictions about this confounding election — I never thought Donald Trump would last so long, and I never saw Ben Carson coming — I think Clinton benefited more from Tuesday’s stage than Sanders did.
She mixed confidence and moments of passion with instances of humor, and her manner was less didactic and robotic than it can often be. From Cooper and from the four men bookending her at the lecterns, she had everything thrown at her: Iraq, Benghazi, her coziness with Wall Street, her personal wealth.
—snip—
And she benefited from the visual contrast when she stood side by side on TV next to Sanders, with his slight hunch, his somewhat garbled style of speech, and a moment when he cupped his hand behind his ear, signaling that he hadn’t heard the question.
He evoked yesterday. Despite many decades in the political trenches, she didn’t. It was a nifty trick. Turns out she’s a bit of a sorceress as well.
Shameless.
Democratic Debate Turns Hillary Clinton’s Way After Months of Difficulties
On Tuesday night, after months of political heartburn, things finally started cutting Hillary Rodham Clinton’s way.
Her performance at the first Democratic presidential debate was so commanding that even her greatest vulnerability — the lingering controversy over her private email practices as secretary of state — ended up redounding to her benefit.
After she crisply explained that she made a “mistake” using a private email server and defended her judgment, the moderator, Anderson Cooper of CNN, turned to her biggest threat in the primary campaign so far, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, in hopes that he would attack her. Mr. Sanders instead came to her aid.
“Let me say something that may not be great politics, but I think the secretary is right — and that is that the American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails,” Mr. Sanders said to cheers and a standing ovation from the Democratic audience.
“Thank you!” Mrs. Clinton said, reaching out and shaking his hand. “Me, too! Me, too!”
Bernie’s in on the fix. Of course, so is the Times, but that goes without saying.
More?
Sure.
Hillary Clinton Debate Performance Chills Biden Movement
Hillary Rodham Clinton’s sure-footed performance in the first Democratic presidential debate did not just lift the spirits of her supporters and reassure nervous party officials about her candidacy, it also swiftly cooled talk about the need for Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to enter the campaign and offer Democrats an alternative.
With crisp answers to nearly every question, an aggressiveness her rivals did not seem ready for and a level of confidence that has often been obscured over months of questions about her use of a private email as secretary of state, Mrs. Clinton sent an unmistakable message to Mr. Biden and to her party. It was the work of a pitcher who, eyeing an anxious manager on the dugout steps and a reliever warming up in the bullpen, hurls strike after strike to get out of a jam.
Wednesday morning, Democrats were describing the closing, if not the slamming shut, of a door.
Or as Stephanie Cutter, another longtime Democratic consultant put it: “If Biden’s only rationale is that Clinton is tanking, then that’s no longer an option.” Mrs. Cutter, who worked for President Obama’s re-election, said Mr. Biden would now “risk a backlash” from Democrats if he ran
Nice.
Who Won and Lost the Democratic Debate? The Web Has Its Say
Bloggers, commentators and the Twitterati quickly weighed in on the first Democratic debate, scoring the winners and losers. Hillary Rodham Clinton was the clear victor, according to the opinion shapers in the political world (even conservative commentators).
Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont won some points for his integrity, while the others — Martin O’Malley, the former governor of Maryland; Jim Webb, the former senator from Virginia and secretary of the Navy; and Lincoln Chafee, the former Rhode Island governor and senator — were mostly viewed as having missed their chance.
Some suggested that another loser was the man still deciding on whether to run, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., as Mrs. Clinton appeared to be formidable. Others disagreed.
“I’m still amazed the other four candidates made Hillary Clinton come off as the likable, reasonable, responsible Democrat.” — Erick Erickson, the conservative radio host
“One impression from Tuesday night’s Democratic debate: Vice President Joe Biden has no rationale to step into the race. If he’s been waiting until after this first prime-time test to see if Hillary Clinton collapsed, he must have seen for himself that she crushed it.” — Fred Kaplan, an author who writes about military issues and policy for Slate
“Hillary was (astonishingly) much more likable and personable than everyone’s favorite crazy socialist uncle. She had few to no cringe-inducing moments. She deftly threw red meat to the base when presented with the opportunity without saying anything that would hurt her in the general.” — Leon H. Wolf, Red State, a conservative blog
“It was, without question, the climax of the debate. Hillary Clinton was defending herself against email allegations, when Bernie Sanders came to her rescue. In doing so, he not only demonstrated the decency that is the hallmark of his campaign but also proved that he’s no ordinary politician.” — Brian Hanley, The Huffington Post
“Hillary Clinton won because all of her opponents are terrible.” — Ryan Lizza, The New Yorker
Jeez!!!
Even “The Web” agrees. i guess it’s a done deal, eh?
And finally…the clincher.
Iowa Democrats Praise Hillary Clinton After Debate
In Iowa, where Bernie Sanders’s call for “political revolution” has lit a prairie fire, Hillary Rodham Clinton’s insistence at Tuesday night’s debate that she, too, is a progressive but one who “likes to get things done,” brought her new respect and support.
Mrs. Clinton’s self-assurance, command of issues and ease in parrying Mr. Sanders at the forum in Las Vegas drew praise from Iowa Democrats, who will cast the first nominating votes on Feb. 1.
Iowans have already observed the two leading candidates closely: Mrs. Clinton has spent 22 days campaigning in the state, and Mr. Sanders 20. The former secretary of state holds a narrow lead in most Iowa polls, but Mr. Sanders, the Vermont senator, has cut deeply into the aura of inevitability that surrounded her in the spring.
“Like a lot of people in Iowa I was on the fence between Sanders and Clinton,” said Jaime Bernal, who works in accounting for Wells Fargo in Des Moines. “I just needed that little push.”
Well, there it is, folks. She’s even got the bumpkins on her side. It’s all over but the shouting, now. May as well go on home. Barring some set of radically strange occurrences, the first part of the PermaGov fix is a done deal.
MoveOn.org?
Naaaahhhhh….
More like MoveAlong.corp.
Bet on it.
Later…
AG
