In looking at the CNN/YouTube debate from an analytical, forensic and rhetorical perspective, I give the number one postion to Edwards.

First, Edwards tended to answer the YouTube user-created qustions in the most forthright and concise manner. He seemed to make the best effort to show he was listening to the questions and sincerely attempting to answer them

Secondly, Edwards did the best job of weaving-in his major campaign themes as part of his answers to the questions. This tended to allow him to reinforce his campaign themes while also answering the direct questions. This is always a good debate tactic and can be powerful when it works well. Edwards did it well in this debate.

Lastly, Edwards’ overall presentation was superior to the others in this debate in my analysis. He looked the most relaxed of the group. Further, he never hesitated (having to figure out his position before answering the question) like most of the candidates did. He also mixed seriousness with a little humor fairly well.

Overall Edwards scored highest on these four key debate criteria: presentation, enagement, responsiveness, and reinforcement of campaign themes. I believe he did the best out of the group in both substance and style in the CNN/YouTube debate.

In terms of second place, I award a three-way tie to Joe Biden, Obama and Hillary.

Each basically did well but not outstanding. And none of them really did markedly better than the other in my analysis. Therefore I give them a three-way tie. If I had to appoint a “best of the 3-way” I would give it to Biden. He differentiated himself from the pack in the debate. However, in terms of the race, I doubt seriously that doing so will do anything positive for his poll numbers.

Hillary and Obama both did fairly well. I would give them solid B’s. Hillary did nothing to hurt herself, which in her front-runner position is what is most important.

Obama did nothing to hurt himself either but needed to differentiate himself more from Hillary in the debate. He didn’t achieve that.
However, you can tell he gets it, as he tried twice to make some sharp distinctions between himself, his ideas and policy directions, and Hillary’s. He needs to do more and get better at it though to make a difference.

Regarding the rest of the candidates Bill Richardson was the most disapointing in my analysis. He has done very well in the previous debates but was mediocre for some reason(s) in the CNN/YouTube debate.

Dodd essentially sounded like he was arguing in the U.S Senate chambers rather then presenting himself as the candidate to support for a Chief Executive position (President of the United States).

Kuccinich was Kuccinich. He talked straight. Didn’t waver from his positions and tossed in a text messenging number a couple times during the debate, which finally earned him a rebuke from Anderson Cooper. Kuccinich has more fans on the Democratic left than any other candidate, but the vast majority of them are just that–fans rather than supporters.

Anderson Cooper’s best line of the night was when the candidates were answering a YouTube question which asked each of them to turn to their physical left and say one good thing and one bad thing about the person standing there.

When it came Kucinich’s time to answer (he was at the end of the podium cue, with nobody to his physical left) he looked at Copper and said: “Look CNN decided not to put anybody to my left in the lineup.” Copper smiled at him and said: “It would be impossible for us to find anybody to your left Congressman.”

Kucinich handled it very well actually. He then gave his comments to Mike Gravel who was his opposite at the other end of the podium cue.

Speaking of Gravel, the last of the group, he continues to get more “gravel-voiced” and negative at each debate. I suppose that comes from not having any campaign money.

Anderson Cooper at one point asked if any of the candidates took a private jet to the debate in South Carolina. Hillary, Obama, Richardson (and maybe another) raised their hands. Gravel then spoke up and told Copper that he took the train to South Carolina and then a bus from the train station to the Citadel, where the debate was held. Gravely-Gravel is kind of refreshing in that regard.

###