Twice, though, Obama did take to the offensive. The first time, midway through the debate, he brought up Hillary’s evasive non-response at a debate last October when she was asked about driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants. But, realizing that he risked violating the civil tone of the proceedings, Obama took pains to say that he was only mentioning it as proof that “this is a politically difficult issue” and then added that he and Hillary share the same basic values on the topic.
His second attack, at the end of the debate, was more effective. It came, not surprisingly, on an issue that has bedeviled Hillary for years: Her support for the 2002 war resolution, which Obama opposed.
“I don’t want to just end the war,” Obama said. “I want to end the mindset that got us into the war in the first place.”
Like an over-excited child egging a participant in a schoolyard scrap, moderator Wolf Blitzer immediately jumped in.
“Senator Clinton,” he said. “That’s a clear swipe at you.”
Clinton made a show of laughing it off—which seems to be her response whenever debates or interviews veer into subject areas in which she is uncomfortable—then offered a rambling justification for her vote, essentially contending that she never thought President Bush would use to resolution to launch a pre-emptive war—even though she was silent in March 2003 when it was clear he was about to do exactly that.
In response, Obama was simple but effective: “The authorization had the title ‘An authorization to use U.S. military force in Iraq.’ I think everyone the day after that vote was taken understood that this was a vote to potentially go to war.”
He then added what may have been his biggest applause line of the night: “Senator makes the point…that she has the experience to be president on Day One. Part of the argument that I am making is that it’s important to be right on Day One.”
Both candidates did well tonight and gave undecided voters who may be leaning their way plenty of reasons to come on board. For Clinton, who is leading in most Super Tuesday states, that is probably good enough. Obama, who is gaining, but still appears to be playing from behind, needs to hope that the numbers-boosting benefits of his ringing South Carolina victory last for a few more days.
