Audition Day For Democratic Hopefuls

By CBSNews.com Senior Political Editor Vaughn Ververs

Just over 400 DNC members and hundreds of party activists were present to hear from ten presidential candidates over the course of two days. Most of the attention was on the three frontrunners, who each brought different themes and strengths to the gathering.

As the first of the big three to take the stage, Obama struck an almost subdued tone. He described the attention being given to his young candidacy as a surreal experience, not unlike being a contestant on a reality TV show. "You're trying to figure out if you're going to go to Hollywood or if you're going to get voted off the island," he joked. But Obama asserted this campaign is no laughing matter. "This is not a game, it is not a contest for the TV cameras. This is a serious moment for America."

Naming "cynicism" as the opponent, Obama continued his themes of hope and a campaign that transcends those of the past. "We don't want another election where voters are just holding their noses and feeling like they're choosing the lesser of two evils," he said.

Clinton, whose speech capped off the morning, touted experience as the quality setting her above the rest of the field. Saying she will continue to work in the Senate to "do everything we can" to set a new course for the country, Clinton worked in a litany of issues into her address – jobs, universal health care, energy independence and global warming to name a few.

Like Obama, Clinton used the themes she kicked off her campaign with just weeks ago. "I am not here today just to start a campaign," she said. "I'm here to start a conversation with our country because we've got to admit to ourselves that things are just not right."

Likewise, Edwards stuck to his populist rhetoric, beginning his speech by emphasizing what he has in the past described as the "two Americas." His remarks were filled with slogans that will become familiar to campaign watchers, if they're not already. Between asking Democrats, "Will you stand up?" and proclaiming that "Silence is betrayal," Edwards made direct appeals to organized labor, one of the most important Democratic constituencies.

For the six presidential hopefuls who spoke today, opposition to the war in Iraq – and President Bush's proposed troop surge – was a predictable unifying theme. Sen. Chris Dodd, who asked Democrats to "give me a chance," called for the end of the war and fed the crowd some of the reddest meat they would have all day. "The American people are tired and fed up with the deception and incompetence of the Bush administration," Dodd said.

Obama reminded the audience that he had opposed the war publicly and often at its outset, before he was elected to the U.S. Senate, but added, "whether you were for it or against it then, we all have a responsibility now to put forward a plan" on how to end it.

Edwards, who has apologized for his vote authorizing it, once again called on Democrats in Congress to stop Bush's proposed troop increase. "We cannot be satisfied with passing nonbinding resolutions that we know this president will ignore," said Edwards.

Having fought questions about her past support of the war, Clinton danced around her 2002 vote for it, saying, "I want to make clear if I had been president in 2002, I would not have started this war." And unlike Edwards, she defended the usefulness of passing a nonbinding resolution opposing the troop increase. "There are many people who wish we could do more," she said, but added that a resolution passed with bipartisan support would mark "the first time we said no to President Bush."

But Clinton went further than she has in the past in calling for an end to the war, promising that if the war wasn't over by the next inauguration, she would end it as president.

DNC chair Howard Dean opened this morning's meeting by touting his party's recent successes and promoting what he called "one of the strongest fields that I have ever seen run for president of the United States." It was at this DNC winter meeting four years ago where Dean made his first big impression among party activists with his opposition to the then-pending war in Iraq. At that time, Dean and other candidates were vying for the opportunity to take on a very popular president and a unified and energized Republican Party.

Democrats enter the 2008 campaign on far more favorable terrain. President Bush is battling a Democratic majority Congress for the first time as he tries to continue to prosecute a war unpopular among a majority of the nation. With no heir apparent in his party, Republicans are increasingly split on issues ranging from the war in Iraq to immigration.

The optimistic outlook among committee members in attendance was reflected in the responses today's speakers received and in conversations afterwards. Activists praised the high quality of the field, with most singling out Obama, Clinton and Edwards. And there was widespread agreement on the chances for victory in 2008. Arizona Democratic chairman David Waid said that unlike years past, this field has candidates with stature. "Obama has a message that is transcendent," and Clinton and Edwards were "impressive," said Waid.

Unlike DNC winter meetings of the past, no single candidate broke out of the pack on day one. The one discordant note, according to those in the room, was a small and short demonstration among anti-war activists during Clinton's speech. Richard Machacek, a DNC member from Iowa, said that some activists "feel she equivocates on Iraq," but stressed that the party is focused on winning the White House in 2008. "We need an electable nominee, not a novelty," said Machacek, adding that all three of the top candidates fit that description.

Sen. Joe Biden, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack are among the speakers who will appear before the meeting on Saturday morning.