PB’s live blog of the AFL-CIO Democratic debate from Soldier Field in Chicago.

• 7:00  -  Thousands of people outside on a sweltering Chicago evening? Recipe for loads of sweat and a bevy of uncomfortable Dems. First impressions leave us a bit perplexed at the organization of the debate. Keith’ tools look haphazard at best…
• 7:14- Dennis Kucinich makes a splash with labor-friendly positions. Another sleeper performance? P.S.: Olbermann’s getting antsy about the audience applause.
• 7:16- Obama gets asked a tough Q about his support for public funding of Soldier Field’s renovation. After bashing non-essential projects as Bush waste, BO shakily reaffirms his support for the Soldier Field vote. Not good.
• 7:21 - A question on NAFTA gives Obama a great opportunity to hammer Hillary but he passes it up. His early look is that of someone who is very nervous and verrry uncomfortable. Is he choking? That’s bad prep and hometown pressure.
• 7:25- Kucinich fires up the crowd by urging the other Dems on stage to promise to repeal NAFTA and pull out of the WTO. Bold move that flouts the format but only draws a tepid rebuke from Olbermann. 
• 7:33- The half-hour break finds Kucinich charming the crowd with strong quips on trade and China, Edwards laying low and trying not to lose any labor support, Obama utterly lost on stage and in a heap of trouble, and Olbermann out of control. Fun stuff.
• 7:40- Iraq is the new topic (nice move after 30 min. of labor talk) and Hillary is still on the defensive, talking about being “careful” when pulling out troops and urging “caution” when discussing Iraq withdrawal. Has the DOD’s “treason” memo cowed her into submission? Nice move by Chris Dodd in calling for a round of applause for U.S. soldiers overseas. The right can’t spin that.
• 7:41 - Olbermann asks what a “Kucinich administration” would do on Iraq. Whoa…
• 7:46- Chris Dodd takes the first shot at Obama over his “invade Pakistan” comments from his big FP speech. They’ll keep coming.
• 7:47  - Obama to critics of his Pakistan position: “Don;t criticize me if you voted to authorize the war in Iraq”. And they “didn’t read my speech”. Ouch!
• 8:02- Lots of really tough  - literally and emotionally - from actual union members and debate spectators. One tear-jerker from a man that can’t afford to pay for care for his ill wife gives Edwards the pulpit and he doesn’t fail to rouse the crowd and cement his status as the candidate for labor. Gets a great crowd reaction and fires up JRE to the point that he cuts off Olbermann (”Who’s been with you in the crunch?” Great line.). Is this the turning point for his campaign? He sure won’t lose the debate after that performance.
• 8:05 - Hillary tries to imitate the Edwards outburst by giving detailed policy talk on the Department of Labor and workers safety, but it just can’t cut it.
• 8:08 - Just realized that Mike Gravel isn’t on the stage. Whew…
• 8:09- Joe Biden’s steady and professional presence finally gets a bit fiery when talking about health care and the lack of nurses in the U.S. (okayyy…). Not a hot topic, but Biden, a former long-term hospital patient, gets emotional and impressive on this issue. Will he ever get traction?
• 8:14- It’s over an hour since the debate started and Chris Dodd gets the first serious question on global warming/energy efficiency. Shouldn’t that be a big labor issue? And how about a candidate-by-candidate rundown of GW plans? That could be useful.
• 8:20 - Last few minutes of the debate start with a nice Cheney joke and a stern-faced Hillary proclaiming that she has fought all of her battles against “powerful opposition”, meaning both Republicans and discrimination. It didn’t fly.
• 8:23 - Edwards tries to smooth over his close connection to trial lawyers (he’s a trial lawyer…) with this quip: “When trial lawyers give money to the jury, it’s a bribe, when lobbyists give money to lawmakers, it’s politics”. That’s a bad joke that makes light of a potentially major problem for the Edwards campaign. He’s still shaken by his big score earlier in the night.
• 8:27- Ex-ESPN anchor Olbermann asks the toughest question of the night of Obama: “Would you honor Barry Bonds at the White House?”. Talk about high and tight. BO’s character takes a hit as he dodges the Q by giving it a “yes without a yes” and completing a cop-out.
• 8:28- Biden pulls another one-word answer out of his bag of tricks. “Yes” to a Q about ending no-bid contracts for the government. It’s old, but it still has some laughs.
• 8:32 - Positive finish from Hillary on what she wants to do immediately as POTUS that gets the crowd up and gives her dour image a kick start, but it all seems a bit naive and leaves one wondering if she actually is preparing for a primary campaign.
• 8:35- After ninety-five minutes, the debate is finally over. Poor Olbermann looks like he’s about to collapse and the candidates are well-lathered, but nothing major shook the stage. No surprises, but trends most definitely emerged from the event. Look for a quick analysis from PoliticalBuzz.com later tonight and a complete rundown tomorrow.