
Performed much better than last time, but has lost her luster and ability to consistently rise above her rivals in part because she course-changed by going a bit ugly and a bit low. She deliberately risked appearing shrill, political and shameless in order to put her opponents in their place and the chattering class may applaud her steely toughness. For the first time in a debate, she initiated off-topic attacks, forcefully challenging Obama on his health care plan and Edwards for going negative; she knocked both off balance, raising the question of whether they can take a general election punch. Was equivocal on trade issues and Social Security, but not in a sound bite-able way that might come back to haunt her. She may not have her game back, but she's slowed and maybe stopped the two-week-old "she's slipping" storyline.
By Mark Halperin
As a testament to his suddenly strong position in the battle for the GOP nomination, says Mark Halperin, the Senator showed off all of his worst traits -- and still easily beat back Mitt Romney's desperate efforts to knock him off his perch
Mitt has a moment -- just when he needed one. But for the rest of the field, it was a snooze-fest of missed opportunities
Analysis: Any dreams of a Clinton-Obama ticket were probably ended after their testiest encounter yet. Mark Halperin gives Obama the edge
John McCain acted the confident frontrunner, Mike Huckabee was the regular guy, and Fred Thompson played attack dog. Mark Halperin scores the South Carolina debate
Mark Halperin grades the candidates in their last joint appearance
The tone was upbeat, the sparks few in the last Democratic encounter before Super Tuesday. Mark Halperin reviews both performances
Ice Age vs. Transformers: It's a Draw!
Summer Reading List
The History of the Bikini
Ask Your Questions: The New York Times' Bill Keller
Cartoons of the Week