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Clinton Fails to Turn Tide in Debate

She needed a big night, but it's mostly business as usual

By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 22, 2008 8:00 AM CST
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(Newser) – Hillary Clinton had to tread a difficult line in last night's debate—make a dent in Obama's credibility and momentum without sounding too negative—and she seemed to fall short of making any real headway, writes Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News. Clinton tried repeatedly to make the case that she's ready to be president and he isn't, but Obama "coolly deflected her attacks," Slater says.

The debate provided Clinton with perhaps her last big chance to stem the Obama tide, note Carrie Budoff Brown and Kenneth Vogel of Politico, and she doesn't appear to have done so. "Clinton took some shots at Obama, but she also passed up opportunities, reflecting an uncertainty about the direction she should take her candidacy. Obama looked like he was trying to run out the clock."

Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. share a few words at conclusion of the debate at the Austin Democratic Debate at the Recreational Sports Center on the University of Texas campus in Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008 in Austin, Texas, (AP Photo/Deborah Cannon,...
Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. share a few words at conclusion of the debate at the Austin Democratic Debate at the Recreational Sports...   (Associated Press)
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks to a crowd at a watch party Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008, in Austin, Texas. Fellow Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was also scheduled to speak at the watch party after Thursday's televised debate. (AP Photo/Harry Cabluck)
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks to a crowd at a watch party Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008, in Austin, Texas. Fellow Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack...   (Associated Press)
Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, speaks to a watch party crowd Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008, in Austin, Texas. Each hopeful spoke at the watch party after Thursday's 90-minute televised debate between Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton. (AP Photo/Harry Cabluck)
Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, speaks to a watch party crowd Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008, in Austin, Texas. Each hopeful spoke at the watch party after Thursday's 90-minute televised debate...   (Associated Press)
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., responds to a question during a Democratic presidential debate in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., responds to a question during a Democratic presidential debate in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/LM Otero)   (Associated Press)
Democratic presidential hopefuls, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., shake hands at the end of the Democratic presidential debate in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Democratic presidential hopefuls, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., shake hands at the end of the Democratic presidential debate in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Feb....   (Associated Press)
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