After watching for two hours, who won the Texas debate on CNN with Campbell Brown? I have my scorecard. I gave the same topics to another journalist watching with me. Plus, please post your comments by clicking at the bottom of the story.
Who Won The Texas Debate On CNN With Campbell Brown?
MY SCORECARD
- The Debate as a whole – (B) – There wasn’t a lot of fire but there was some substance. The answers were allowed to go long enough for candidates to make a point.
- Campbell Brown (B) – I thought she was on a roll. She opened the debate in a strong way. She looked great. She allowed the candidates and the topics to be center stage. She was moving along solidly… UNTIL she lost control during the health care debate. From there, she hobbled along to the finish line. This was far better though than the Anderson Cooper and Wolfe Blitzer debates with Brown hoping the format allowed for more substance.
- Jorge Ramos – (A) – Great. He connected to Texas audience. He connected to the Spanish-speaking audience. I wish he had been given more time in this debate to really drive home the issues of interest to Texas and Latinos.
- John King –(B) – He was pretty good. He pressed for answers when candidates avoided specifics. For some reason, I wanted more from him. The format did not play to his strength of pushing for answers.
- Hillary Clinton – (A-) – She can win the debate. Her trouble is winning the primaries. She was passionate. She was focused. Her best point was the closing answer about defining moments. Her defining moment is the one we all lived with her (Bill Clinton – Monica Lewinsky). She may have been hurt though by the ‘Xerox’ comment (the audience booed). CHECK OUT SOUNDBITES/CLIPS AT: CampaignBites.com
- Barack Obama – (B+) – He is far stronger in speaking to a large group instead of these debates. His speeches after recent wins have been great. He seems to wilt a bit though when going face to face with other strong candidates and moderators.
CONTRIBUTING SCORECARD: Brandon Benavides (National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Region 6 Director)
- The Debate - (A) - The format allowed the candidates to fully engage each other and explain their differences. We saw Barack's and Hillary's leadership, experience, and manner differences showcased. For the first time, the audience truly participated in the debate. They boo-ed, applauded, and gave a standing ovation. They've been the best audience in the debate season so far.
- Campbell Brown - (D) - Campbell did not control the debate. She had a hard time keeping the candidates on time and on topic. The candidates went on a health care tangent and she could not bring the debate back on topic until the candidates finished their arguments. She came across very personable and human but Campbell was not authoritative.
- Jorge Ramos - (A) - For the first time in recent history, Jorge created a bilingual debate. He questioned the democratic candidates in Spanish and English. Plus, he didn't sugar coat the hard questions. He immediately brought up the controversial topics of Cuba, immigration reform, and the role of a commander-in-chief. He did all of this in a humble manner. Jorge is the co-anchor a national network nightly news program. A job he's held for nearly two decades but he didn't come across as arrogant.
- John King - (C) - John did an average job of asking questions. He executed his task but there was nothing memorable from him. He didn't leave me with anything special.
- Hillary Clinton - (A+) - Hillary came across as a polished presidential candidate. She highlighted her experience, connected with the audience, and satisfied the awe moment. She closed the debate with a memorable explanation on why her tests are trivial compared to the scarifies men and women in the military have faced. Hillary stood her ground and explained her specific programs.
- Barack Obama - (B) - Barack's performance was above average. He stayed on message and stuck to the issues at hand. He connected to the audience and went after Hillary when needed. He had an excellent exchange on key issues: health care, meetings with heads of state, and the war in Iraq.
LIVE BLOGGING NOTES DURING THE DATE
CNN's Campbell Brown opened the Texas debate with a standing ovation from the crowd. I wasn't sure whether Brown could calm the audience so she could continue with the Democratic debate (February 21). Brown looks great and is very confident as the debate starts. Jorge Ramos can seize on the important issues to the many Latinos and many Texans. Watch the CNN debate here.
- Clinton's opening statement was clearly focused on Texas and Ohio. She remains focused on her consistent message of talking to the working class and the middle class. She seems strong and confident.
- Obama's opening statement focused on personal stories. He tried to connect to the voters that he wants to bring to the polls and caucuses. Obama also seems to try to bridge the Democratic alliance between he and Clinton... while pointing to her weaknesses and her strengths.
- Ramos speaks Spanish to start his first question. He asked Clinton about sitting down with the Cuban leaders to set a new course. When Clinton gave an indirect answer, he pressed her for a yes or no.
- Brown followed up with Obama. She also pressed him that his answer tonight was different than his opinion on 2003.
- John King's first question focused on the economy which repeatedly surfaces as the top domestic concern. He then transitioned to asking the two candidates to point out how they are different.
- While most of this blog will focus on the journalists, Clinton's answer to the economic question was passionate and focused. She knew there was a message she wanted to talk about. She talked for 2-3 minutes even over the interruption by Brown.
- Ramos asked a question about raids of homes where illegals are suspected to be living. It was a different spin on the 'immigration issue'.
- King focused a question about the fence along the American-Mexico border. It was another question of specific concern to the people of Texas. When Clinton appeared to not answer his question, he pressed for more clarity, pointing out that a partial fence would just force the problem to move.
- Ramos is doing a great job of connecting the Spanish speaking audience to this debate and the candidates. His question focused on whether a bilingual nation is a good thing.
- COMMERCIAL NOTE: CNN's promotion for Campbell Brown's new show lacked much punch at all during this debate. The spot (see it here) doesn't connect Brown, her strong performance to this point tonight and her new show coming in March.
- King points out the difference in polite tone during this debate and the many speeches on the campaign trail. He asks whether you can say "your opponent is all hat and not cattle."
- Brown asks about the plagiarism questions regarding Obama's speeches. She then follows up asking Clinton whether the campaign is a 'silly season' (mentioned by Obama) Take a look at the YouTube video. Note a phrase that will be repeated by the Clinton campaign "Change you can Xeroz."
- Ramos asked Clinton whether Obama is not prepared to be President. She redirected the answer to health care (which she did not respond to because of a commercial break)
- An ugly scene of Brown losing control of this debate developed when the candidates wanted to continue to talk about health care instead of answering Ramos' question. They continued. Brown interrupted... with no success.
- Ramos asked his question a second time when the candidates were finished talking about health care.
- King asked about 'judgment' especially as it related to the surge in Iraq. He pointed out that both candidates questioned the surge. He suggested there has been a positive effect of the surge.
- Brown pushed for more answers from Obama about the surge.
- King asked Obama why he had not disclosed where $90 million in government earmarks went to. Obama said he had. King also asked Clinton if McCain has a better case to make than her on wasteful spending.
- Ramos asked Clinton about the role of super delegates. Brown pushed Obama for an answer on the same issue.
- As the final question, Brown asked for a defining moment, a moment of crisis, when the candidate was tested.
