Gerard Baker: what happened to the smackdown? | Celebrity endorsements
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama last night sought to replace the bare-knuckled brawl that has characterised much of their fight for the Democratic presidential nomination – with gentle sparring.
From the outset of the televised debate at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, the two candidates stressed the values they shared rather than bitter rivalry which threatens to damage Democratic hopes of winning the White house in November.
“I was friends with Hillary Clinton before we started this campaign,” said Mr Obama, “I will be friends with Hillary Clinton after this campaign is over.”
Mrs Clinton expressed similar sentiments. “The differences between Barack and I pale in comparison to the differences that we have with the Republicans,” she said.
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In the absence of John Edwards, who this week dropped out of the race, she contrasted the historic nature of a contest in which either a woman or a black man will be the Democratic nominee. “Just by looking at us, you can tell, we are not more of the same,” she said. “We will change our country.”
Last night disagreements were framed in terms of policy rather than the venomous personal attacks that marked their previous debate in South Carolina.
Mrs Clinton was challenged on her vote in 2002 authorising President Bush to take military action against Saddam Hussein. She said her intention had been to bolster efforts to send weapons inspectors into Iraq and suggested Mr Bush had pursued a reckless course.
“There were legitimate concerns about what [Saddam] might do. So I think I made a reasoned judgment. Unfortunately, the person who actually got to execute the policy did not,” she said.
The focus now should be on what to do “going forward”, she added, citing the apparent determination of John McCain – the frontrunner for the Republican nomination – to keep troops in Iraq.
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“It will be important, however, that our nominee be able to present both a reasoned argument against continuing our presence in Iraq and the necessary credentials and gravitas for commander-in-chief,” said Mrs Clinton.
Mr Obama replied: “I will be the Democrat who will be most effective in going up against a John McCain... I will offer a clear contrast as somebody who never supported this war, thought it was a bad idea. I don’t just want to end the war, I want to end the mindset that got us there in the first place,” he said.
“Senator Clinton mentioned the issue of gravitas and judgment. I think it is much easier for us to have the argument when we have a nominee who says, ‘I always thought this was a bad idea, this was a bad strategy’.
The exchange over Iraq encapsulated the difference between Mrs Clinton – who says her experience means she is ready to start tackling America’s problems from “Day One” – and Mr Obama who last night insisted that it was more important “to be right on Day One”.
Mr Obama has portrayed the nomination contest as being a battle between the past and the future. Mrs Clinton was asked if it was right to continue the two family rule which has seen either a Bush or her husband occupy the White house for the past 20 years.
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“It did take a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush, and I think it might take another one to clean up after the second Bush,” she replied.
The two candidates politely explored divisions over health care policy and immigration, the latter being a key issue in California ahead of Tuesday’s primary election which could be decided by Latino – who account for around a third of the state’s population.
Mrs Clinton, asked if she had been “missing in action” during an immigration debate on Capitol Hill, responded tartly. “I co-sponsored comprehensive immigration reform in 2004, before Barack came to the Senate,” she said.
The former First Lady also had to defend the behaviour of Bill Clinton, who has alarmed many Democrats with his pointed criticism of Mr Obama in recent weeks. She then added: “At the end of the day, it’s my name that is on the ballot.”
But the general tone of the debate echoed some of the gush which often flows from the same stage in Hollywood at the annual Oscars ceremony. “We’re having such a good time,” said Mrs Clinton at one point. “We are. We are. We’re having a wonderful time.” Mr Obama, added, without embarrassment: “Yes, absolutely.”
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At the end of the debate, the two candidates were asked if they might yet join up as a Democratic “dream ticket” in November’s general election.
“I respect Senator Clinton, I think her service to this country is extraordinary,” said Mr Obama, adding that while it was “premature” to discuss such a possibility, “I’m sure that Hillary would be on anybody’s short list.”
Mrs Clinton responded: “Well, I have to agree with everything Barack just said.”