Democratic Debate Live Coverage

Democratic Debate November 15 Live Coverage, News and Analysis

All times in EST

8:01 PM: CNN
- Okay, here we go. They're doing something a little different by having the candidates enter individually.
- Seems like they're wasting a lot of time getting into it.

8:15 PM: Universal Health Care
- Clinton and Obama go at it over the differences in their health care policies. John Edwards states the nation needs a president who will restore trust in the White House, then accuses Clinton of "voting with Bush and Cheney" on sanctions aimed at Iran. Clinton accuses Edwards of mud slinging.
  - Candidate stances on Health Care

8:25 PM: They all claim they'll endorse the democratic nominee if it is not one of them... even a begrudging Edwards.

8:27 PM: The Illegal Immigrant License Issue: Support an illegal immigrant license?
- 'Obama doesn't directly answer the question with a definitive yes or no until pushed. He does end up saying yes. Clinton, who armed herself earlier puts the issue behind her with a single definitive "no".
- Edwards: No, Dodd: No, Obama: Yes, Clinton: No, Richardson: Yes, Biden: No, Kucinich: objected to the phrase "illegal immigrants," "undocumented" is the correct word.

8:35 PM: Education enters the debate.
- Merit pay for teachers is the big issue being debated. The Teachers Union, a key democratic base, opposes merit pay. Clinton is for merit pay.

8:45 PM: The crisis in Pakistan comes up and Biden shows that he is probably the candidate best armed to deal with foreign policy.

8:50 PM: The intriguing dilemma of Human Rights vs. National Security with regards to Pakistan is brought up.
- Richardson: Human Rights
- Obama: both national security and human interests can be protected
- Dodd: National Security
- Clinton: National Security

8:55 PM: Is the Troop surge working?
- Everyone comes down negatively. Obama: "The notion that we've gone from horrific levels of violence to intolerable levels of violence" doesn't mean that the surge is working.

9:10 PM: Free Trade and China
- Moderator Wolf Blitzer brings up NAFTA and directs his question first to Clinton; brings up her Trade Time-out idea to review all trade deals.
- The recent toy recalls are brought up. Both Clinton and Obama talk about sending US inspectors into China and require their trade partners live up to their sides of the agreement.

9:15 PM: What to do with Nuclear waste. Richardson seems to show a real understanding of the issue and talks about renewable energy and sacrifice. Good to hear some straight talk about that.

9:20 PM: "Is Clinton exploiting her gender as an issue in this campaign?"
- "I'm just trying to play the winning card. I understand very well that people that are not attacking me because I am a woman, they are attacking me because I'm ahead."

9:30 PM: Back from the break and they're bringing up audience members for questions. A woman and her Marine son ask about the discussion surrounding a possible war with Iran.[1]
- Says Biden: Important to "not ratchet up the winds of war."
- Clinton would negotiate with Iran in order to prevent their becoming a nuclear power.
- Edwards: "Bush, Cheney and the neo-cons wanted the Iranian Revolutionary Guard declared a terrorist group. ... We've seen this movie and we know how it turns out."
- Obama: "I said I would meet not just with our friends, but with our enemies. ... That's what strong presidents do." He says he'll meet with Iran's leaders himself not just send envoys.

9:35 PM: Racial Profiling is brought up by a member of the audience who had repeatedly suffered racial profiling since the 911 terror attacks.
- Edwards: U.S. needed to restore its position in the world by restoring civil liberties and not having a conversation about what kind of torture is permitted.
- Kucinich: Questioner was owed an apology by his country.

9:45 PM: Are Immigration and Terrorism intertwined?
- Richardson gives his plan for dealing with immigration. Dodd states that the notion that terrorism and immigration are intertwined is incorrect.

9:50 PM: Clinton & Obama spar on Social Security and Medicare.
- A little background on Obama's and Clinton's stances on the issue.

10:00 PM: Q:When choosing supreme court justices, will you require supporting abortion of your nominations?
- overall insistence of respect of "right to privacy" and agreement that Roe v. Wade is settled law.
  - Candidates's stances on abortion.

10:10 PM: Uniting the Country
- Obama deflects a question that he said Clinton couldn't unite the country by saying he actually said he could do better.
- - Obama: "I would convene a continuous advisory meeting with not just Democrats but with Republicans - specifically on national security issues."
- Clinton brought out her past running for Senator of New York when asked if she was too polarizing. "Let's enlist the best we have in America and start acting like Americans again."

10:20 PM The debate ends, but not before a final question directed at Clinton. "Does she prefer Diamonds or Pearls. Answer: Both.

The Huffington Post: Vegas Debate: Hillary Goes On Counter-Offensive (November 15, 2007)
CNN: Democrats spar in heated debate (November 15, 2007)
CNN: I-Reporters weigh in on the Las Vegas debate
Associated Press: Democrats Debate in Las Vegas (November 15, 2007)
- The slugfest at the beginning of the debate reduced the other Democratic presidential hopefuls to the uncomfortable, yet familiar role, of spectator.
AFP: Clinton in the crosshairs at Democratic debate (November 15, 2007)
- following her shaky debate in Philadelphia, Clinton re-established herself on firm ground tonight.
The Huffington Post: Clinton Accuses Rivals of Mud-Slinging (November 15, 2007)
FOX News: Clinton Goes After 'The Boys' In Desert Showdown (November 16, 2007)
- Democratic strategist Garry South: "It was a very impressive performance by Hillary Clinton. She showed she could battle back criticism very well."