The Blog Formerly Known As Vote '08

We hope you’re as excited as we are for tonight’s debate; it’s been so so long since we’ve had one!

& to make things more interesting .. there’s a chance that this may be the very last one between Clinton & Obama.

Here are some links to get you primed & ready:

Chris Cillizza over at the Washington Post’s blog “The Fix” breaks it down this way:

* Clinton — Naughty or Nice? Clinton’s approach has fluctuated widely in recent debates. At times she is magnanimous to and about Obama, at others she appears to be looking for every opportunity to knee-cap him. Our guess is that the tougher Clinton is the one who takes the stage tonight; her campaign, rightly or wrongly, believes that the “bitter” comments made by Obama offer her perhaps her best chance yet in the campaign to change the narrative. If Clinton can’t make “bitter” stick to Obama tonight, she may never have another opportunity to do so; no other debates have been scheduled in the remaining six weeks of the nomination fight.

* Obama — Professor or Pugilist? Like Clinton, Obama has adopted a number of different styles during the 20 (or so) debates of the campaign. The Illinois senator is best when goes off script — often during a heated exchange between candidates. Obama is quick on his feet and has a natural sense for repartee. He’s at his worst when faced with a question about the economy or health care; he dips into his college professor mode, offering a series of philosophical arguments almost entirely bereft of specifics or any real passion. For The Fix, the difference in Obama’s approaches is similar to listening to a CD and seeing a band live. Obama needs to go for that live feel tonight.

Veteran political journalist Dick Polman has advice for what Obama needs to say tonight, at his blog, Dick Polman’s American Debate.

& pollster Doug Schoen has advice for Hillary: go negative.

We hope you watch, think over who you think won, & come back here to post a comment! We’ll be waiting!

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