Romney Wins -- And Here's Blow-By-Blow on Democrats' Debate

By: Greg Mitchell Mitt Romney won by a comfortable margin over John McCain in the GOP primary in Michigan, with Mike Huckabee trailing badly -- and Ron Paul doubling Rudy Giuliani's total. The call was made at 9 p.m. just as the big Democratic
debate with Obama, Clinton and Edwards, opened in Nevada. Here's how we blogged that debate.

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11:00 : Rather bloodless debate ends with Williams asking when each decided to run for president and why -- in each case a little over a year ago. Allows them to make a bit of their stump speech and raise central theme, very briefly. Obama makes a joke in saying that he thought family could manage it because "my wife is extraordinary and my children above average."

10:50: Brian Williams says Hillary had denounced "fear"politics earlier but brings up her saying, on eve of New Hampshire vote, that al-Qaeda might test new president early and that he/she better be experienced and ready -- suggesting Obama was a big risk. Did she mean Obama? She parries it, just says a "daunting" role.

Obama praises Hillary for helping NYC after 9/11 but says that, indeed, her raising that fear issue in relation to him is "part and parcel" of the same kind of fear politics that have dominated the past few years and is "a mistake."

Russert then asks Clinton bluntly if al-Qaeda would more likely test Obama than her. She denies.

10:45: Now Russert asks about gun control, big issue in Nevada. He has elbowed Williams aside and taking lead in questions. Clinton admits she has backed off a national gun licensing plan she once held. Obama had backed in state legislature but now says "we can't get that done" nationally.

10:40: Russert, back in attack mode, asks Hillary if she would disavow one of her pollsters who said in The New Yorker that Hispanics don't like to vote for blacks. Hillary says he was speaking historically. Obama says, "No problem in Illinois, they voted for me."

10:28: This had evolved into a non-debate, with wide agreement on all sorts of things. Now they are asked about nuclear storage in nearby Yucca Mountain. Clinton perks up, saying Obama has a big funder backing Yucca, and that Edwards opposed it twice. Obama says he against it in any case.

Edwards then takes opportunity to say that he differs from other two on future of nuclear power in U.S. -- he is totally against a revival while they have said they are "agnostic" about it.

Russert then helps him by sticking on the nuclear power question and pointing out that Obama voted for energy bill that might open door wide for new plants. Obama says we shouldn't build more plants unless solve disposal and cost problems -- so obviously he would back building if that happens. He refers to it as an "energy mix."

Russert, obnoxiously, offers Edwards a "reality check," lecturing him on MIT experts saying absolutely will need nuclear power in future to meet needs. Edwards doesn't buy it. Then he charges Clinton with getting huge sums from disreputable energy interests.

10:08: New segment, where candidates get to ask the others question or two. Edwards says everyone is pushing health care reform but points out that Clinton and Obama have accepted a gigantic stash of money from drug and insurance companies. What do those companies expect from them?

Obama replies by touting that amount of money he has raised from small donors and backs public financing of campaigns, and wants to push back influence of lobbyists. But does not answer question at all.

Hillary then says she wants Obama to agree with her on something. Bush says he wants to make agreement with Iraqi government to make binding a longterm U.S. presence in U.S. Clinton says she is sponsoring bill that would require Bush to come to Congress for approval and asks Obama to co-sponsor.

He says "we can work on this Hillary," though he sounds a
little underwhelmed about it.

Russert asks them about committing to no troops in Iraq during their first term, and they all agree that there will be no combat troops and no permanent bases, but would probably retain some troops to protect embassy, humanitarian efforts, etc.

All three raise Republican candidates all backing Bush on this and they all oppose. Very collegial and very few sparks in debate after the first few minutes.

9:55: After a commercial break, the NBC guys return with questions about the economy. Very few interesting disputes here, though Clinton and Edwards have to admit they regret votes a few years ago on bankruptcy and other issues. Clinton speaking a little "hot" tonight and not at all in the more soft and allegedly "feminine" way that allegedly went over well in New Hampshire.

9:35: Brian Williams asked about emails they get all the time claiming Obama is Muslim, took oath of office on the Koran etc. Obama, of course, denies the "lies." But as in controversy over a recent Washington Post, Williams did not introduce this himself as false rumors, as he should have done.

9:30: Russert asks Obama greatest strength and greatest weakness. Obama says strength is "bringing people together" and weakness is he loses papers and his desk can be a mess-- hastens to say this is not "trivial" as he knows he will need good people around him to help out.

Edwards talks about his strong commitment but sometimes says he can speak too strongly out of passion and can undermine what he is saying.

Clinton says she, too, feels passionate but can get impatient.

9:25: Brian Williams asks Obama about his "you're likable enough Hillary" in the last debate. Obama says he regrets because it was not received as it was meant, that he was trying to give her props. Says he regrets focus on those things when all three candidates are qualified and fine people.

A heckler disrupts things for about 15 seconds, apparently charging that there are too many race questions.

Russert, after Hillary says she will be "ready to lead" on first day in office, asks if that means she feels Obama and Edwards not ready to lead? She punts, saying that's up to voters to decide.

9:20 PM: Kind of a bombshell. Russert quotes Clinton saying earlier that if anyone said stuff that she didn't like she would get rid of that supporter. So what about big backer Robert Johnson's apparent reference this week to Obama's youthful drug use? Will she still let him speak for her anymore?

She answers that she accepts Johnson's farfetched explanation that he was merely referring to Obama's community organizing. Oh, really?

9:12: Obama says, "Our supporters and staff get overzealous and say things I wouldn't say." Asked if he lost votes in New Hampshire when people got "into the privacy of the voting booth," Obama said no, he thinks Hillary just ran a good campaign.

9:05 The debate started with host Brian Williams getting right to it with a statement about focus on race in recent days and asking Hillary Clinton "how we got here." She replied that she and Barack Obama agree that race and gender should not be a factor, mentions King birthday, argues that everyone has supporters who are "uncontrollable" and may make awkward statements.

Obama says, "I think Hillary said it well."
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