Posted on 04/16/2008 8:04:59 AM PDT by SmithL
The demolition derby that now defines the Democratic presidential primary race looks headed for another smashup tonight when Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama meet for a debate in delegate-rich Pennsylvania, site of the nation's next big primary on Tuesday.
With the Democratic presidential hopefuls locked in open warfare as the last primaries wind down and the battle for delegates heats up, the questions now are: How much intra-party bashing will voters tolerate, and how much will the Republicans benefit?
Although past one-on-one debates between the New York and Illinois senators have been virtual lovefests, the terrain is different this time because Clinton is running out of room. Many political observers believe she must put the pedal down hard tonight if she hopes to convince all-important superdelegates that she alone has the muscle to take the Democratic fight on to the general election.
"It has been an enjoyable primary season," laughed Sacramento-based GOP strategist Rob Stutzman on Tuesday on the recent developments that have had Obama and Clinton pouring on the vitriol in the last week. Between the brouhaha over the "bitter" comments from Obama in San Francisco and the beer-and-gun-loving displays by Clinton as they have courted Pennsylvania voters, Stutzman notes, the Democratic presidential contest is "becoming the political equivalent of Vietnam. At some point, one of them catches a helicopter off the roof, but it's not clear who it will be - and how it will happen."
With just six days until voters go to the polls in Pennsylvania, Stutzman's obvious delight in tonight's debate (starting at 5 p.m. PDT on ABC) is a measure of just how much the presidential race has shifted - and just how impossibly tangled it looks for the Democrats right now.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Plus what the h*ll is there to debate between these two... who's the Marxist and who's the Trotskyite?
(IMO Obama is closer to the definition of a Trotskyite)
Both of their speechwriter teams must be in overdrive right now, having the candidates memorize lines that remind voters of the other's warts, while appearing to remain on the high road themselves. And there will no doubt be some below-the-belt knockout lines from Hillary. She has no choice. It should be a great cage match!
Or Southpark.... screw the debate.
I hope she pops him with her broom.
QUAGMIRE!!
Or see if her ashtray aim has improved.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.