Steady Clinton Handles A Lively Debate

News Analysis By CBSNews.com Senior Political Editor Vaughn Ververs

In the wake of a 90-minute debate on the campus of South Carolina State University, even the campaign aides sent out to "spin" the press were reluctant to declare all-out victory, satisfied instead to tout their outstanding opinions of the respective candidates' performance. But there were subtleties in the debate that didn't shake up the race but may have returned it to where it was three months ago, with New York Sen. Hillary Clinton holding a clearer edge over Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

South Carolina Democratic chair Joe Erwin, like nearly every Democrat in the area, refused to make judgments about winners and losers, but hinted at some of the differences on display. "As time goes by, these candidates establish themselves as individual brands," Erwin said, "and that will make it easier for Democrats in South Carolina and around the nation to make a choice."

Some of the biggest differences in those brands were displayed by the two candidates under the most intense scrutiny. In polls and fundraising totals, Obama has closed the gap with the once prohibitive front-running Clinton in recent weeks. But Thursday's performances put into focus the differences in their political experience.

Clinton, if not inspiring, turned in a nearly error-free performance. Forcefully advocating an end to the war in Iraq, she also came across as strong on national defense. Asked what she might do in the event of a hypothetical terrorist attack, Clinton responded, "If we are attacked and we can determine who was behind that attack, and if there were nations that supported or gave material aid to those who attacked us, I believe we should quickly respond."

The New York Senator was self-effacing on issues such as the failed health care reform she pushed as first lady and the number of mistakes she has made throughout her career in public life. Clinton even reached across the aisle, saying "we need Republican support" to achieve the Democratic goal of leaving Iraq. The solid performance left Clinton aides like spokesperson Mo Elleithee simply repeating mantras such as, "Time and time again, she showed that she would be ready to lead."

For his part, Obama seemed unsteady at times. In contrast to Clinton's aggressive response when asked the same question about a hypothetical terrorist attack, Obama said, "The first thing we'd have to do is make sure that we've got an effective emergency response." He continued his answer by discussing the quality of intelligence and the need to not "alienate" the international community.

As if recognizing a failure to project strength, Obama returned to the question when answering a completely different one on the environment. "One thing that I do have to go back on, on this issue of terrorism. We have genuine enemies out there that have to be hunted down," he quickly said before then getting into a feisty exchange with the two fringe candidates representing the pacifist wing of the party — Rep. Dennis Kucinich and former Sen. Mike Gravel.

Obama has been criticized during this early stage of the campaign for failing to lay out specifics on policy issues and relying too much on political bromides and rhetoric. At any stage of a campaign aimed at millions of people, intricate policy details are hardly expected, but Obama did little to dispel the criticism — asked specifically how he would pay for his health care ideas, he danced around the question. But campaign aides said they're happy with their candidates' grasp of the issues. "If the substantive bar is the one that gets laid down, we're in great shape" said spokesperson Robert Gibbs.

John Edwards, the former vice presidential nominee and winner of South Carolina's primary in 2004, did little to distinguish himself from the crowd and was in some ways overshadowed by Sen. Joe Biden. Edwards' aides wanted to portray their candidate as the most policy-specific, but the candidate offered nothing new in regard to his ideas. His one shining moment came when the class warrior was confronted with his $400 haircut bills, allowing him to describe his family's inability to pay for a restaurant meal as a child.

For Edwards, this may not have been a defining event, according to some Democrats. He has largely staked his campaign on building support among specific constituencies, not a national audience. And while this state where he was born is important to him, it may not be at the top of his agenda this time around.

As Democratic Congressman Jim Clyburn, the most sought-after endorsement in the state, put it, South Carolina may be an afterthought this year. "I don't think South Carolina is key for Edwards, I think Iowa is," said Clyburn. "Expectations for him in Iowa are very, very high. If he does well in Iowa then I think he will prove himself a very formidable candidate. If he doesn't, then he won't be in the game when South Carolina comes along."

Biden turned in the surprise performance of the evening, with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson stumbling the most and Sen. Chris Dodd seeming almost invisible in the crowd. Coming into the debate, Biden was stuck with the perception of a meandering speaker with a habit of stepping on his own message. In one of the most humorous exchanges of the night, Biden was asked whether he could ensure the nation he could restrain that quality and responded with a simple "yes."

Richardson, on the other hand, struggled mightily to explain an earlier statement he had made about the fate of embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. The governor had earlier said he was reluctant to call for a resignation because Gonzales, like Richardson, is Hispanic. Asked to explain that position, Richardson said, in part, "I know the guy. Did it affect that he was Hispanic in what I said? Yeah, it did, and I said so. I think the American people want candor."

For a presidential debate, there seemed to be an inordinate amount of laughing moments aside from Biden's "yes," which drew the largest guffaw of the night. There were also some rather bizarre moments as well, most of them supplied by Gravel, who at one point claimed he was literally scared of his fellow candidates.

"It's like going into the Senate, you know the first time you get there you're all excited — 'My God, how did I ever get here?' — and then, about six months later, you say, 'How the hell did the rest of them get here?'" Gravel remarked. "And I got to tell you, after standing up with them, some of these people frighten me! They frighten me!"

If the excitement and attention surrounding this debate is any indication, Gravel is the only Democrat who is frightened right now.