‘To the Point: Democrats Debate’

In Austin, Texas it took 45 minutes before Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton began attacking each other. In Cleveland, Ohio, they got into it right away. Traveling on familiar ground, was Clinton able to blunt Obama’s momentum? How did they position themselves to run against John McCain?

In their Cleveland debate, Obama and Clinton zeroed in on each other and the economy, with special focus on the North American Free Trade Agreement; but differences over healthcare got more time than anything else. Did Clinton do what she needed to stop Obama’s momentum? Does either one really want to re-negotiate NAFTA? One Houston paper says Obama has already won in Texas, with a week still to go. But a new, national poll says, that either one will have a tough time against John McCain in November, showing their Republican rival with an edge in experience and the war on terror, even on the economy. Although a majority said the war in Iraq was not worth waging, half said McCain was best equipped to deal with it.

Guests:

– Jennifer Palmieri: Advisor, John Edward’s 2008 presidential campaign
– Jonathan Alter: Senior Editor and Columnist, "Newsweek"
– John MacArthur: Publisher, Harper’s
– Andrew Leonard: Staff Writer, Salon.com
– Cal Jillson: Professor of Political Science, Southern Methodist University

Hosted by award-winning journalist Warren Olney, "To the Point" presents informative and thought-provoking discussion of major news stories — front-page issues that attract a savvy and serious news audience.

More "To the Point" | Discuss the election