By Jim Tankersley
LOS ANGELES – This is the land of command performances: Jack Nicholson in "Chinatown," Kirk Gibson in Game One, Johnnie Cochran in "If it does not fit, you must acquit."
The stage is set in Hollywood tonight for someone to join them. Democratic presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will debate at the Kodak Theater, their first one-on-one meeting of the campaign, with high stakes and great expectations.
It will be the first major debate in American presidential history not to feature a white male candidate. It comes only days before a pivotal burst of primaries and caucuses, highlighted by the delegate-loaded vote in California. And for Clinton and Obama, it's the best chance yet to break out as the clear frontrunner in what has been a see-saw Democratic contest.
The candidates take the stage, live on CNN, at 8 p.m. Eastern, 5 p.m. Pacific. They'll clash for 90 minutes, and if last week's South Carolina debate is any predictor, they'll waste little time on pleasantries.
Tune into The Swamp for a live-blog of the proceedings and full coverage of the fallout. We've rolled out the red carpet for this one.
• 
• 
• 
• 
Comments
I am amazed. A woman and an African-American the leaders of the Democratic party to be the leader of our nation. I never thought I'd see it in my lifetime!
Posted by: lochnessmonster | January 31, 2008 5:13 PM
This just in.
The new RNC talking points re. Obama;
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/live_from_congress_representativ_0
Posted by: C.Morris | January 31, 2008 5:26 PM
The real test will be whether CNN throws softballs at Hillary or asks her about Bill's trips that helped a contributor get major
uranium deals from Kazakhstan. That same person made mega-million dollar gifts to the Clinton "Library" Foundation, which seemingly has no accountability for its receipts or disbursements. The question is if Hillary is president, will Bill be out selling access to the Oval Office's policies in return for "contributions" to his non-accountable foundation? And will CNN ask the question and get something other than a cackle as an answer? Don't bet on it.
Posted by: Darryl | January 31, 2008 6:10 PM
Illinois Women for Obama ask you to vote for Barack Obama.
It is time for a fresh voice.
Just listen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JizTJwBegwI&feature;=related
Posted by: Illinois Women for Obama | January 31, 2008 6:56 PM
How far left is Barack H. Obama?
National Journal just rated him the MOST LIBERAL senator for 2007.
"Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was the most liberal senator in 2007, according to National Journal's 27th annual vote ratings. The insurgent presidential candidate shifted further to the left last year in the run-up to the primaries, after ranking as the 16th- and 10th-most-liberal during his first two years in the Senate...
And Clinton II isn't much different. Not many differences to debate here:
"In their yearlong race for the Democratic presidential nomination, Obama and Clinton have had strikingly similar voting records. Of the 267 measures on which both senators cast votes in 2007, the two differed on only 10. "The policy differences between Clinton and Obama are so slight they are almost nonexistent to the average voter," said Richard Lau, a Rutgers University political scientist."
Since the Trib routinely describes the most conservative senator as "ultra" or "arch" conservative, when can we expect to see the Swamp start describing Barack H. Obama as "ultra" Liberal?
Posted by: Murrow | January 31, 2008 7:06 PM
Love the pictures of Hillary and Obama. Hillary looks like the cat that just ate the canary. Obama looks most determinedly optimistic. Too bad I won't vote for either of them.
Posted by: Irene | January 31, 2008 7:33 PM
"How far left is Barack H. Obama?
National Journal just rated him the MOST LIBERAL senator for 2007."
Excellent!
Liberal = good
Posted by: C.Morris | January 31, 2008 8:50 PM
Barak's wife won the debate he has a coretta
Posted by: rawdawgbuffalo | January 31, 2008 10:26 PM
Barack Obama's Health Care is the Same Universal Health Care offered by Hillary but with one Major Difference: You Have the Option of Choice! Do you want to be forced to pay for medical insurance like you are mandated to pay your auto insurance now? Or would you rather have the option of CHOICE --to be able to decide whether or not you want to buy your medical coverage at this time? This way Barack Obama's plan does not put another mandated cost, like auto insurance, on the backs of the people, especially the young who already have college costs to contend with. However, the coverage is always there for you, if and when you need it.
Posted by: Bacalove | February 1, 2008 4:50 AM