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Politics

Democrats' debate gives presumptive also-rans a stage

By ADAM C. SMITH and BILL ADAIR
Published April 27, 2007

ORANGEBURG, S.C. - At least one thing was clear by the end of the first Democratic presidential debate of the 2008 election Thursday: Former Alaska Gov. Mike Gravel had by far the best night of his presidential campaign.

The longest of longshot Democratic presidential candidates was able to stand side by side with household names like Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama on national TV. Amid eight candidates with largely similar platforms, he even managed to stand out by bashing the leading Democrats as pro-war.

In a crowded primary race dominated by Sens. Clinton of New York and Obama of Illinois and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, the first presidential debate offered the underdogs a shot at breaking out and the potential for faltering by the frontrunners. By the end of 90 minutes, the frontrunners may have protected their turf, but they didn't stand out above the lesser-known candidates.

Iraq and criticism of the president's performance dominated much of the debate.

Most of the candidates had voted to authorize force in Iraq, and they offered mea culpas Thursday night, though Edwards took a swipe at Clinton for not calling her vote a mistake.

"Sen. Clinton and anyone else who voted for this war has to search themselves and decide whether they believe they've voted the right way. If so, they can support their vote," said Edwards. "If they believe they didn't, I think it's important to be straightforward and honest."

"I take responsibility for my vote," Clinton responded. "It was a sincere vote based on the information available to me. And I've said many times that, if I knew then what I now know, I would not have voted that way."

Obama joined others in calling on Bush to accept the Democratic Congress' vote this week to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq.

"We are one signature away from ending this war," said Obama, D-Ill., arguing that if Bush carries through on his pledge to veto that bill, Democrats should find the votes to override him.

With some Republicans arguing Democrats are soft on the war on terror, and Gravel and Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich sounding like pacifists, other Democrats felt prompted to tout their national security strength.

"Let's stop a lot of this happy talk here that use of force doesn't make sense," Delaware Sen. Joe Biden said at one point. "Use of force in Afghanistan is justified and necessary. In Darfur, justified and necessary. In the Balkans, justified and necessary. You guys can have your happy talk. There's real life."

Of the second-tier candidates, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson may have gained ground with his candid answers on issues ranging from his reluctance to condemn Alberto Gonzales because he's a fellow Hispanic and his longstanding support for gun rights.

"I think the American people want candor," Richardson said. "They don't want blow-dried candidates with perfection."

Other highlights:

- Five of the candidates - Gravel, Biden, Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd, Richardson and Kucinich - said they had a gun in their household at some point in their adult lifetime.

- Obama said one of his biggest mistakes in public life was not doing more to fight the congressional intervention to try to force Terri Schiavo to be kept alive.

- Brian Williams noted Biden's reputation for gaffes and "uncontrolled verbosity" and asked whether he had the proper discipline for the world stage. Biden responded with one word: "Yes."

Adam Smith can be reached at asmith@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8241.

[Last modified April 27, 2007, 01:47:15]