Winning By a Hair

The CNN-YouTube debate was pretty much the same as all the other previous events -- a joint press conference between the eight Democratic candidates on a stage -- although last night's event had more the feel of a game show with Anderson Cooper emulating Bob Barker. The candidates were asked questions submitted by the public via YouTube, and while it had the distinct odor of gimmickry, most of the questions were worth asking and occasionally pointed. The candidates showed their ability to take an unrehearsed question and turn it into one of their standard stump speeches without too much effort, so if you want to give them points for that, I suppose that's to their credit. (If you missed the debate, CNN has the transcript here, and Salon.com has a capsulated version.)

However, the best part of the debate was the Super Bowl aspect of it; that is, the commercials sometimes were better than the event itself. The candidates were asked to submit their own 30-second YouTube video, and most rose to the challenge. Chris Dodd used his to make light of the fact that he's got a full head of white hair (a point not lost on Anderson Cooper); it's a sign of experience. But speaking of hair, it was John Edwards who capitalized on the format and came up with a spot that not only did what Youtube does best -- quick images and a snappy score -- and also brought one of his perceived sore points -- the jokes about his hair and his $400 haircuts -- out on stage and used it with wit and humor.


My respect for John Edwards shot up a few points just for that. As for his actual performance in the debate he handled himself pretty well on the issue of gay marriage, for the which he got several pointed questions, including several people who asked him how he could not be for it when his wife, Elizabeth Edwards, has spoken out in favor of it. But if the YouTube spot is any guide, he's got one asset that some of the other candidates -- including the fringe quotient -- sorely lack: a strong sense of humor. That may not win an election, and it certainly isn't the one thing you choose a president on, but it's a part of the mix and I'll give him kudos for it. This won't put an end to the "Breck Girl" snark from the righties, but it will sound a tad hollow from now on.

As for who "won," the Conventional Wisdom will probably say that Sen. Clinton did, based on the fact that she too was able to acknowledge her public perceptions and turn them to her advantage. Frankly, unless a candidate does a standing pass and a power barf on stage, you'd have to say that no one really lost. They did quickly fall into their assigned roles; Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel were the wild cards and could always be counted on to say something that made you say "Wha...?" Joe Biden bit off his words and raised his voice. Bill Richardson proved that he has a lot of experience and knows how to slip it into every answer, and even John Edwards managed to get in his customary tale of growing up in poverty with a daddy who worked in the mill. In that respect, the New York Times got it right; new format, same old answers.