By NEIL SIMON, Media General News Service
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With Sen. Barack Obama riding the momentum of 11 wins in a row this primary season, Sen. Hillary Clinton headed into the MSNBC debate at Cleveland State University Tuesday night looking for any opportunity to shift the tide before next week's March 4 primaries, but after 90 minutes the campaign terrain was barely changed.
Here are some of the highlights from the broadcast.
Obama, Need a Pillow?
Right out of the gate Clinton pointed the finger at the media for being soft on Obama. Mocking a Saturday Night Live spoof of the last debate, she said, "Maybe we should ask Barack if he's comfortable and needs another pillow." Obama smirked; the crowd didn't seem to laugh.
Clinton, Points for Delivery
In a video of Clinton campaigning, she faked Obama's rhetoric, saying, "The sky will open, the light will come down. Celestial choirs will sing. The world will be perfect."
The crowd laughed, as did Obama as he shrugged. "Sounds good, I give her points for delivery."
Clinton let out her signature hearty laugh.
Clinton's Low Point (Russian Names)
In a debate where she needed to play up her every advantage over Obama, foreign policy would have been the issue on which to do it, but when NBC's Tim Russert asked Clinton her thoughts on the man who is likely to become Russia's new president, Dmitry Medvedev, the Senator struggled to name him, eventually saying his name incorrectly and adding "or whatever."
With the audience more concerned about domestic jobs, the miscue would not seem to be costly, but it seemed out of character for Clinton and certainly a lost opportunity to capitalize on her foreign policy credentials.
Obama's Low Point (Louis Farrakhan)
Asked whether he would reject the support of Louis Farrakhan, a known anti-Semite and head of the Nation of Islam, Obama was less than direct.
"I have been very clear in my denunciation of him and his past statements. I did not solicit this support," Obama said. "I can't say to somebody that he can't say I'm a good guy."
But Clinton tried smartly to make an issue of the point, saying she was in a similar position in New York during a past campaign and she rejected the support. "I was willing to take that stand," she said. "At the time, I thought it was more important to stand on principle."
Obama came around, saying, if the word 'reject' is stronger than the word 'denounce,' I will reject and denounce and concede the point.
"Good, good," Clinton said. The audience laughed as the attempt at a minor victory for Clinton dissolved into a debate of semantics.
NAFTA Re-do
Both candidates agreed they would renegotiate the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement – "on terms that are beneficial for all of America," Clinton said.
"We should use the hammer of a potential opt-out as leverage to get labor and environmental standards enforced," Obama said.
Foreign Policy
Clinton added a new twist to her jabs at Obama and his foreign policy resume, saying as a subcommittee chair with jurisdiction over European affairs, "he's held not one substantive hearing" on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's role in Afghanistan.
Obama responded, that he became chairman of the committee at the beginning of this campaign, and it's true, "I have not held hearings on NATO." As important as congressional oversight is, it is hardly the type of issue that turns elections.
The rest of their foreign policy sparring was their by-now-routine exchange on the Iraq war. He spoke against it in 2002 when she voted for the invasion in the Senate, a vote she says she regrets. "Many people gave speeches. He didn't have responsibility," Clinton said, who has said Obama lacks experience.
Obama replied, "Senator Clinton, I think, equates experience with longevity in Washington. I don't think the American people do."
McCain Mention
In a closing question, Obama said Clinton would be worthy as a nominee. "I think I'd be better," he said. There's no doubt Sen. Clinton would be better than Sen. John McCain, who I respect, but he has tethered himself to George W. Bush, Obama said.
Clinton replied, "I still intend to do everything I can to win, but it has been an honor."
The two shook hands to end their 20th debate of the campaign -- the last one scheduled this primary season, which could end Tuesday.
Here are some of the highlights from the broadcast.
Obama, Need a Pillow?
Right out of the gate Clinton pointed the finger at the media for being soft on Obama. Mocking a Saturday Night Live spoof of the last debate, she said, "Maybe we should ask Barack if he's comfortable and needs another pillow." Obama smirked; the crowd didn't seem to laugh.
Clinton, Points for Delivery
In a video of Clinton campaigning, she faked Obama's rhetoric, saying, "The sky will open, the light will come down. Celestial choirs will sing. The world will be perfect."
The crowd laughed, as did Obama as he shrugged. "Sounds good, I give her points for delivery."
Clinton let out her signature hearty laugh.
Clinton's Low Point (Russian Names)
In a debate where she needed to play up her every advantage over Obama, foreign policy would have been the issue on which to do it, but when NBC's Tim Russert asked Clinton her thoughts on the man who is likely to become Russia's new president, Dmitry Medvedev, the Senator struggled to name him, eventually saying his name incorrectly and adding "or whatever."
With the audience more concerned about domestic jobs, the miscue would not seem to be costly, but it seemed out of character for Clinton and certainly a lost opportunity to capitalize on her foreign policy credentials.
Obama's Low Point (Louis Farrakhan)
Asked whether he would reject the support of Louis Farrakhan, a known anti-Semite and head of the Nation of Islam, Obama was less than direct.
"I have been very clear in my denunciation of him and his past statements. I did not solicit this support," Obama said. "I can't say to somebody that he can't say I'm a good guy."
But Clinton tried smartly to make an issue of the point, saying she was in a similar position in New York during a past campaign and she rejected the support. "I was willing to take that stand," she said. "At the time, I thought it was more important to stand on principle."
Obama came around, saying, if the word 'reject' is stronger than the word 'denounce,' I will reject and denounce and concede the point.
"Good, good," Clinton said. The audience laughed as the attempt at a minor victory for Clinton dissolved into a debate of semantics.
NAFTA Re-do
Both candidates agreed they would renegotiate the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement – "on terms that are beneficial for all of America," Clinton said.
"We should use the hammer of a potential opt-out as leverage to get labor and environmental standards enforced," Obama said.
Foreign Policy
Clinton added a new twist to her jabs at Obama and his foreign policy resume, saying as a subcommittee chair with jurisdiction over European affairs, "he's held not one substantive hearing" on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's role in Afghanistan.
Obama responded, that he became chairman of the committee at the beginning of this campaign, and it's true, "I have not held hearings on NATO." As important as congressional oversight is, it is hardly the type of issue that turns elections.
The rest of their foreign policy sparring was their by-now-routine exchange on the Iraq war. He spoke against it in 2002 when she voted for the invasion in the Senate, a vote she says she regrets. "Many people gave speeches. He didn't have responsibility," Clinton said, who has said Obama lacks experience.
Obama replied, "Senator Clinton, I think, equates experience with longevity in Washington. I don't think the American people do."
McCain Mention
In a closing question, Obama said Clinton would be worthy as a nominee. "I think I'd be better," he said. There's no doubt Sen. Clinton would be better than Sen. John McCain, who I respect, but he has tethered himself to George W. Bush, Obama said.
Clinton replied, "I still intend to do everything I can to win, but it has been an honor."
The two shook hands to end their 20th debate of the campaign -- the last one scheduled this primary season, which could end Tuesday.