Hillary started strong.

The opening statements were all pretty much what you would expect.  All the candidates recited their resumes well.

Sanders began the debate with some forceful comments and seemed to challenge Clinton without saying so.

Anderson Cooper had a rather confrontive demeanor, which probably surprised the Fox News crew who have been predicting a media love-fest with the candidates.  Cooper was quick to shut down the candidates, with the exception of Clinton and Sanders.

Webb was not terribly fluid with his responses.  O’Mally and Chaffee did a little better.

Sanders boasted about his D- rating from the NRA, as a badge of honor.  Clinton rallied the Democratic crowd with her anti-gun rhetoric and attack against the Sanders record.  O’Mally trumped Sanders’ NRA Rating by flashing his F rating.  Webb lost this round by suggesting that families should have the right to protect themselves.

National defense was an area where Clinton took some shots.  Sanders was put on the hot seat and held his own pretty well.  Webb stumbled through his response on the issue, but did manage to give a strong basic position, although it sounded more like a Republican position than that of a Democrat.  Throughout the debate, Webb undoubtedly lost favor with Democrats but probably gained credibility with Republicans.  Its hard to believe Webb is very popular at Democrat functions.

Clinton wiggled her way through the Benghazi and email scandals, with the help of Sanders.  This to a standing ovation from the audience.

Clinton won by emerging unscathed and not making any major gaff.   Sanders held a strong second position and Chafee and O’Mally probably ended where they began.  Webb was the loser in this debate.  He is not liberal enough to rise above last place in this Democrat race.

Credit should be given to CNN for presenting a better than expected format and a execution of the debate.  Most of the time was given to Clinton and Sanders, but with the small number of participants, all the candidates had some opportunity.  It was more interesting than I thought it would be.

At the end of the debate, nothing had really changed.

 

***Gordon Howie is an author and CEO of Life and Liberty Media***

“It’s not about right or left, it’s about Right or Wrong.”

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