Live Blogging the Democratic Presidential Debate

I'm in the Media Filing room with more than a hundred laptop-pounding reporters. The debate will start in about ten minutes and I'll post my reactions as it goes along.

9:03 pm: No rules for this debate, just "reasonable time limits on answers." Good luck with that!

9:10 pm: Brilliant way to open, showing tape of Clinton making nice at the last debate and then lashing out at Obama. Clinton goes with calling Obama's tactics "disturbing," a word choice that makes her sound reasonable, matter of fact. She is not showing any visible anger. Insists that her plan will cover everyone and be affordable. "We should have a good debate that uses accurate information."

9:15 pm: Clinton has jumped in twice, cutting off Williams. Obama isn't able to get a word in. Clinton is beginning to look distinctly angry. They are both shaking their heads while the other speaks. This isn't helping either, but Clinton is the one who needs to come off better.

9:19 pm: Ridiculous. Clinton complains about getting the first questions every time. Refers to the SNL skit. Groaning and booing in the media room. That didn't go over well.

9:27 pm: Clinton tries to disagree with Russert about being inconsistent on NAFTA, but it doesn't come off as credible because Russert laid out too many examples.

9:29 pm: They've been talking about NAFTA for over ten minutes, and Obama is finally getting into the emotional side, the impact on workers and families who lose their insurance and pensions along with their jobs.

9:35 pm: Clinton did well with Russert's question about her 2000 pledge about creating jobs in Buffalo. She turned it into a strong mini-speech about the creation of jobs during the Clinton administration, and using alternative energy industries like solar power to create jobs in Ohio.

9:41 pm: Obama does well framing his superior judgment in terms of Iraq and Pakistan. Obama's "who drove the bus into the ditch" metaphor for starting the Iraq war is brilliant.

9:48 pm: Obama tried to gain ad advantage by saying he'd go back into Iraq if we withdrew and Al Qaeda then established a base there. She will skewer him about this later, however, because it can be portrayed as a willingness to risk repeating Bush's mistake.

9:53 pm: The Cackle!

9:57 pm: Both candidates pass off Clinton's mockery of Obama during a speech as "having fun."

Clinton says "it takes a fighter," but that line isn't working in a debate where she hasn't really come off as one. She had some spark at the outset, but since then they've both kind of slowed to a slog. Lots of looking down while talking. The fireworks died out in a hurry.

10:04 pm: Obama is good on relating "mobilizing and inspiring" as a key to good governance, not just campaigning.

10:14 pm: Clinton didn't come away from the question about revealing tax returns smelly all rosy. Too much of a reminder of the evasions and fast-talking of the Clinton years. Obama was on dangerous ground with the Farrakhan questions.

10:20 pm: Obama's response to being rated more liberal than Sen. Kennedy on his voting record sounded strangely reminiscent of Michael Dukakis, attacking the categories and saying it's time to get past the old labels. Sooner or later, somebody is going to have to stand up and re-appropriate that term, not shy away from it.

10:29 pm: Both handled the foreign policy questions well enough. Trying to sneak in their closings. Obama goes for the high ground -- says nice things about Clinton's campaign. Clinton has done decently in this debate, getting her points across. But Obama did well enough, avoided any disasters.