The November 15 Democratic Debate

In a debate that happened in Vegas but has major implications for Iowa, Mark Halperin says Clinton rebounded while Joe Biden shined

Hillary Clinton

New York Senator Hillary Clinton

Andrew Gombert / EPA
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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

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