Yes, tonight’s Democratic presidential debate (the 453rd of the cycle?) is being relentlessly hyped (CNN, which is broadcasting it, breathlessly notes that the candidates “are taking off the gloves and it’s going to be a fight to the finish in Las Vegas!”). But given the recent dynamics of the race, it promises to be a good show.

It’s the first rematch since last month’s debate, where frontrunner Hillary Clinton’s foes were for the first time able to draw blood and both Barack Obama and John Edwards have been turning up the rhetorical heat ever since. Even Clinton herself has conceded, “I wasn’t at my best,” and her campaign has been stumbling ever since.

Here’s the nickel analysis by CNN correspondent Candy Crowley: “Anyone paying attention in the days since the last debate would hear the sounds of a calendar closing in. The rhetoric in both the Edwards and Obama campaigns has hit new decibels, aimed at driving down Hillary Clinton’s poll numbers. From Clinton’s two-week struggle to explain her position on driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants, to the planted question in one of her town hall meetings, Clinton has given them new ammo.”

Other members of the chattering class were also weighing in today. Notes the Washington Post, “with Democrats heading into another debate tonight in Las Vegas, the race is more fluid than it has been in months.” Per the New York Times, the debate “offers opportunities for all three candidates, but Mrs. Clinton has the most repair work to do.”  USA Today offered up a scorecard on the debates to date.

The show starts at 7.

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 15th, 2007 at 12:19 pm and is filed under Democrats, Presidential. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.