In a nutshell, the Democratic debate was informative in this sense: in terms of policy and political philosophy, the difference between these two politicians is infinitesimal. Both candidates last night admitted as much. Hillary and Obama are both big-government liberals that won't leave us alone. Both are committed to immediate withdrawal in Iraq —consequences be damned — despite, at least on Obama’s part, a begrudging acknowledgment that the surge has been productive. One of the highlights of the debate was when her earlier comments to General Petraeus (where she in essence, called him a liar for stating that the surge strategy was successful) were quoted verbatim with a question relating to whether or not there has been progress in Iraq. Since, Hillary, like all Democrats, has been politically invested in defeat, her answer was completely non-responsive.  

Viewing this remarkable exchange, I was struck by the fact, that come the general election, the Democratic Party, yet again, is going to have to convince voters that it is strong on national security issues. Given the indisputable level of progress that has occurred in Iraq recently, I think McCain will have a field day with the Democrats’ inflexible narrative of defeat.

Although she committed no major gaffes, looking at Hillary's performance at last night's debate, I was struck with one overriding theme: that she is, and throughout the entire campaign, has been, a truly mediocre candidate.

She repeats her prepared lines ("If we had known then, what we know now…; "Ready To Lead From Day One!") with a monotonous languor that, instead of reinforcing whatever fraudulent message she is trying to convey, simply dulls the senses and by virtue of incessant recitation, robs the phrase of any meaning. Thus on the stage between the two, he is uplifting, inspiring; she is plodding, boring —robotically predictable. He is Laurence Olivier; she, a second-rate B grade movie actress.

Hillary tried to distinguish herself from Obama by playing her experience card, but she gained no traction from this gambit. The dirty little secret is that neither Hillary or Obama has any meaningful experience that would qualify them for the presidency. Regurgitating lines is a great way to learn poetry. It can not however, magically create heft to a thin resume for a woman who has risen to political prominence on the coattails of her husband. Given her loss of 10 primaries in a row, it is clear that Democratic primary voters have called her bluff on this fraudulent pretense.

Since their approach to governing is nearly identical,t he choice for Democratic primary voters boils down to this: who do you prefer? Consider the following factors.

Notwithstanding his wife's recent impolitic and unpatriotic comments, Obama has the additional advantage of not having to tame a spouse that, no matter how many times pundits assert his "rock star" status within the Democratic party, has proven to be a loose canon on deck and may have helped drive the final nail into Hillary's coffin. The more voters see Bill Clinton in action on the stump, the more they are reminded that instead of having to ratify the inevitability of Queen Hillary's Coronation, they do indeed have a choice.