First, decide who you think won Tuesday's debate. Done? OK, now vote in this poll:

[Skinner]

Who do you think won Tuesday's debate?

8 votes, 2 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	I think my preferred candidate won the debate.
	7 (88%)
	I think a candidate other than my preferred candidate won the debate.
	0 (0%)
	I do not have a preferred candidate.
	1 (13%)
	2 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[FSogol]

1. IMO, No one won the debate.

There was no TKO like Lloyd Bentsen vs Quayle or Biden destroying Paul "Helpless" Ryan.

Different candidates in this debate had different goals.

HRC had to show she was progressive and would stay to the left. She had to show that RW attacks are nothing more than RW attacks. She needed to keep Biden from sensing weakness and joining in. She succeeded and did a good job.

Sanders had to show non-supporters that he wasn't an angry, un-electable, commie from a tiny liberal State. He came off well and reassured much of the party base. He spoke well and his ideas resound with all Democrats.

O'Malley had to introduce himself to people who weren't aware of him, separate himself from Webb/Chafee, and show he had the progressive chops to be on the stage with Sanders and HRC. He also succeeded especially with the number of times he said, "I already enacted these policies in Maryland and his powerful closing statement."

All three did well. Who won? American did. No matter which Democrat is the winner in the end, America is better off with our party than they would be with the crappy, clownish candidates of the GOP.



AAR, winning the debate means nothing since the 1st debate is not the finish line. The next debate is in less than a month.
Not sure why all the wailing and gnashing of teeth on DU over who won and the methodology of saying who won is really warranted.

[WI_DEM]

2. No preferred candidate yet

but if I did have one I would vote for the "my preferred candidate" option.

[demwing]

3. haven't you heard? online polls are useless... /nt

[yuiyoshida]

16. THIS!

[planetc]

4. I really enjoy your wry sense of humor.

[FSogol]

6. +1 n/t

[Major Hogwash]

5. You didn't include Joe Biden in your poll.

So, your poll isn't valid.

Move backwards 2 spaces, and lose your next turn.

Sorry, that's the way the game is played.

[HooptieWagon]

7. The candidates had different goals for the debates.

Clinton's goal was merely not to lose it...utter a racist dog-whistle, trip and fall walking to the podium, looking flustered. She by and large accomplished that.
Bernies goal was to introduce his policies to a national audience that knew little about him, have them see that his proposals are very much in line with what the average voter wants, and have them see that despite the 'socialist' cries from Camp Weathervane he is not a fringe candidate. He successfully accomplished this.
The goal of the remaining candidates was merely to make best use of the limited time they were going to get. O'Malley succeeded, Webb and Chafee didn't.

So, in deciding who 'won', it's a question answered by who best accomplished their goals? Sanders set himself the highest goal, and met it. Clinton set the lowest goal (don't blow it) and met it. If this was scored like Olympic Diving, with degree of difficulty a factor in the score, then Sanders clearly out scored Clinton. Even O'Malley outscored Clinton, perhaps even 'won'.

[demwing]

18. This is the best analysis of the debate I've read so fat

Well stated, and concise enough for an elevator pitch.

[Lithos]

8. Wrong Question

Better question -

Who won the debate - The Democrats or the Republicans. Is it more or less likely after this debate for a Democrat to win the Presidential campaign.


L-

[NCTraveler]

9. I don't think O'Malley did what was necessary.

I think Clinton was the class of the field with Sanders and O'Malley right there next to her. That just doesn't get it done for O'Malley. I do think it is good enough for Sanders. With his upward trend and past debate history he has to be nothing but happy. He didn't hurt himself. Clinton topped it in stature by a pretty good amount. When you are the unchallenged frontrunner that is what you need to do.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. “In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place.” -Gandhi.

[moondust]

11. "Winning" is largely subjective

Last edited Thu Oct 15, 2015, 03:29 PM - Edit history (1)

most anywhere outside the sports arena where there are well-established rules, official referees, and obvious ways to score points and lose advantage regardless of anyone's preferences. A show of hands that the public can count for themselves is still a tally of preferences and therefore subjective.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. This debate was part of a process and each participant had specific objectives to meet.

I'd say that the three candidates most supported on DU each did well in terms of their own objectives while the other two failed to do so.

[Prism]

13. O'Malley was weaker than I wanted him to be

I've been holding off going for Sanders because I've had hopes O'Malley would get some traction nationally.

I didn't see anything Tuesday that leads me to believe he'll be anything but a nice potential VP.

As far as Clinton/Sanders, each did what they needed to do at this juncture. Sanders introduced himself and his ideas to a wider audience, while Clinton came off polished and didn't get ruffled by any of the pointed questions put to her.

That's literally all they had to do right now.

[AgingAmerican]

14. I will let Time-Warner and the pundit class decide

These things are none of the little people's business.

[Fearless]

15. I vote Pass... I'll stick to my original statement that night...

It was a tie between Bernie and Hillary.

Both appeared informed whereas the other three seemed rather put out and unprepared.

[olddots]

17. polls are fun

makes me feel like somebody gives a shit about my opinion .
7 billion people .