memeorandum: First Thoughts: The Dem Debate (Marc Ambinder)

1:30 AM ET, February 1, 2008

Top Items:

Clinton and Obama go one-on-one in tonight's debate — LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) — Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will duel for Super Tuesday votes Thursday night as the Democratic presidential hopefuls face off for the first time together minus former Sen. John Edwards.

Discussion: Washington Post, Firedoglake, Lonewacko, Taylor Marsh, Hillary Is 44, Independent Liberal and The Democratic Daily

Marc Ambinder:

First Thoughts: The Dem Debate — I was tempted to call this encounter a draw but I am mindful that there are no zero sum debates in presidential politics. — And twenty minutes of Iraq happened. And so I'll give Obama the edge. Clinton was forced, for about 20 minutes, to recapitulate her vote on Iraq, over and over again.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Slate, Washington Post, MSNBC, Spin Cycle, The Reaction, The Field and toohotfortnr

Gallup:

Gallup Daily: Tracking Election 2008 — Based on daily polling from Jan. 28-30, 2008 — PRINCETON, NJ — Initial indications show support for John McCain is increasing following his win in the Florida presidential primary and the subsequent withdrawal of Rudy Giuliani, who endorsed McCain.

Discussion: Comments from Left Field, Liberal Values, American Power and Donklephant

Logan Murphy / Crooks and Liars:
C&L's John Amato Joins Keith Olbermann For Post Debate Analysis

Discussion: Hullabaloo

Minnesota Public Radio:
Poll: Clinton, McCain leading in Minnesota

Discussion: The Field

Brit Hume / Fox News:
How One News Organization Handled the Edwards and Giuliani Stories

Discussion: Riehl World View

Matt / Think Progress:
Hume laughs at idea of Americans being beheaded.

Discussion: My Two Sense

nj.nationaljournal.com:

Obama: Most Liberal Senator In 2007 — Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was the most liberal senator in 2007, according to National Journal's 27th annual vote ratings. The insurgent presidential candidate shifted further to the left last year in the run-up to the primaries …

Allahpundit / Hot Air: Nonpartisan avatar of hope and healing somehow has most liberal …

Brad / Sadly, No!:

Depressingly stupid goddamn journalism — Dear Dr. Atrios. I have a good Wanker of the Day nominee for you. His name is Jake Tapper and he's (tragically) a senior national correspondent at ABC. He's also apparently illiterate. Check it: … Or perhaps you should actually read …

Discussion: The Corner, Political Punch, Right Wing Nut House, Obsidian Wings and PoliGazette

Jennifer Parker / Political Punch:

Bill: “We Just Have to Slow Down Our Economy” to Fight Global Warming — Former President Bill Clinton was in Denver, Colorado, stumping for his wife yesterday. — In a long, and interesting speech, he characterized what the U.S. and other industrialized nations need to do to combat global warming …

Jennifer Parker / Political Punch: Being Accused of “Parsing” By the Clinton Campaign

Mark R. Levin / National Review:

Rally for Romney — I have spent nearly four decades in the conservative movement — from precinct worker to the Reagan White House. I campaigned for Reagan in 1976 and 1980. I served in several top positions during the Reagan administration, including chief of staff to Attorney General Edwin Meese.

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, TPM Election Central, Redstate, Riehl World View, American Power, DownWithTyranny!, GINA COBB, michellemalkin.com, Commentary, The Politico and Gateway Pundit

Bryan / Hot Air:
Mark Levin nukes McCain, calls for conservatives to rally 'round Romney

Discussion: Gateway Pundit, Stop The ACLU, Macsmind and Sister Toldjah

Ben Smith / The Politico:

Blow by blow: Clinton vs. Obama — My colleague Jonathan Martin, in the theater, hears Obama apologize to an autograph seeker. — “I'm not going to be able to personalize it, because I've got to get out of here,” he says. — Facebook Google Technorati — A final touch

Discussion: Liberal Values and LA Observed

Christopher Hayes / The Nation:

The Choice — It's gotten to that time in the primary contest where lines are drawn, camps are solidified and conversations around dinner tables grow heated. My friend Dan recently put it this way: “You start talking about the candidates, and next thing you know someone's crying!”

Discussion: Pandagon and Matthew Yglesias

Abe Greenwald / Commentary:

Obama's Muslim Summit — Reuters reports that if Barack Obama becomes President, he'll hold a summit with all leaders of Muslim countries: … Is he planning on doing this before or after bombing Pakistan? Because that could have an effect on that gap he's talking about.

Discussion: Chicago Boyz, The Belmont Club and Weekly Standard

Reuters:
Obama wants summit with Muslim countries

Discussion: The Heretik

CNN:

Sources: Al Qaeda's No. 3 man killed — WASHINGTON (CNN) — A senior al Qaeda terrorist active in operational planning and training has been killed in Pakistan, a knowledgeable Western official and an unnamed military source said Thursday. — The official identified the terrorist as Abu Laith al-Libi …

Discussion: TBogg, Hot Air, Reuters, The Long War Journal, Washington Monthly, Weekly Standard, On Deadline, Jihad Watch, JunkYardBlog, The Jawa Report, bustardblog, Unqualified Offerings, The Impolitic and ABCNEWS

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:

Quick Sum Up — Some very quick thoughts. The debate was a surprisingly substantive discussion of a number of issues that actually resonate in people's lives. Which means it wasn't really anything like a political debate. I thought both candidates had a good debate.

Matt / Think Progress:

Glenn Beck's Rants Against ‘Juan McCain’ Would Not Be Welcome At RedState.com — Discussing last night's GOP debate on his radio show today, Glenn Beck and fill-in host Pat Gray mocked Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) by derisively calling him “Juan McCain." Beck, who considers McCain's sponsorship …

Discussion: Redstate, The Huffington Post, Media Matters for America and My Two Sense

Victor Davis Hanson / The Corner:

The Non-Debate — If one studies carefully the Clintama answers on the war on terror, illegal immigration, and Iraq then the magnitude of Republican infighting seems surreal. The gulf between Hillary and McCain is Grand-Canyon like. This debate came down to Obama, talking in vague generalities …

Jennifer Rubin / Commentary:

Ted Olson — Ted Olson, fomer U.S. Solicitor General and conservative legal icon, has just informed me that he is endorsing John McCain.

Discussion: Captain's Quarters and The Volokh Conspiracy