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• 8:04 - Blitzer brings us up to speed on the format of the debate, and is it ever refreshing news: No rules.No rules, no time limits - just head-to-head action between two political heavyweights. Let the fun begin…
• 8:07 - Blitzer gives both candidates opening statements on the topic of their choice. Obama goes first, mentioning the departure of the “wonderful” John Edwards from the race. It’s a clear ploy too woo supporters from JRE. Obama then gives a broad overview of what he’s campaigning for - nothing juicy yet.
• 8:08 - Hillary follows Obama with another mild message of Dem unity and Bush bashing. Rattles off what she wants to work on as president. Very bland… Uh-oh: Hillary says we need a president who can “solve our problems” starting “on day one.” Wants a “problem solver” at 1600.The first salvo.
• 8:11 - On “differences” between herself and Obama, Hillary gives a mention if her “universal” health care plan, noting that it is “very similar” to the Edwards plan. They’re all trying very hard for those refugees. “Just by looking at us, we are not more of the same,” comparing the two Dem candidates to the Republican contenders.
• 8:15 - Obama takes the same Q and politely points out the health care differences. Criticizes Hillary’s plan that forces insurance on people. Looks like both candidates are trying to avoid direct and bitter confrontation, staying in a more civil policy debate pointing out their differences rather nicely. Could be hearing the disgust with their infighting…
• 8:16 - Barack brings up another “similarity” with Edwards. Come on…
• 8:20 - Hillary on health care: “This is the passionate cause of my public service.” Clearly aiming to trump inexperienced Obama’s plan and ideas on health care. But she then points out the differences between their respective health plans very calmly and in a polite fashion. It’ll take something big for these two to crack. They’ve been trained well.
• 8:26 - Obama talks about televising health care negotiations on C-Span for “all Americans” to watch. Has he checked ratings lately? Blitzer takes this quip and spins it as a “swipe” at Hillary. Probably, but that’s just really reaching. Seems like the host’s new job is trying to start an on-air prize fight.
• 8:32 - Lots of time being spent on minute details of the respective health care plans. Also brought up is the plan for tax hikes being used to pay for everything. Nobody deals with that thorny issue - it’ll be tough in the fall… Bizarre side note: Obama brings up the cost of “foot amputations.”
• 8:36 - HRC touts her bipartisan skills in working on legislation with Bill Frist and even Newt Gingrich? That’s something for the general - not the liberal primaries.
• 8:39 - And now the discussion turns to a back-and-forth on immigration. So far it’s a very serious and very civil debate. Not much that’s pitting Obama vs. Hillary, but more Dems vs. Republicans.
• 8:46 - No one is biting on the many opportunities given them by Blitzer to start a shouting match. The lengths Blitzer is going to try to start something sinister is getting outlandish. Continues going after some innocuous statement from Obama earlier this week on “humane” immigration policies. He apparently didn’t include Hillary’s plan, so Wolf is grilling him non-stop on if he thinks HRC is “cruel” toward immigrants. Sigh… HRC doesn’t take the bait, either, and goes back to her playbook of listing policy points, policy points, policy points. And vitriol toward GOPers.
• 8:51 - Here it comes: Obama notes that it “took a while” for Hillary to come to a “clear” position on immigration. The first direct attack. Hillary throws her head and chuckles… HRC brings up Obama’s own debate dodge on driver’s licenses for illegals. And then the issue is gone. Poof.
• 8:53 - First commercial break. That last skirmish over immigration - was it a sign of things to come in the second-half?
• 8:58 - The dreaded “experience” question. Obama gets the “is Hillary better prepared” Q, HRC gets the “why is your experience a benefit” Q. It’s a desperate tack, and neither candidate will take it head on. It’s clear that blunt and antagonistic questioning will not bring out the claws. They’ll only do it on their own.
• 9:04 - The Ted Kennedy endorsement of Obama is brought up to HRC. She responds that she’s got her own cache of Kennedy’s backing her.
• 9:07 - To Obama: Is it right to remember the Clinton presidency fondly? He’s not biting, but does get a zinger in there when he comments that Bill’s two terms “look even better” when compared to G.W. Bush’s record. Odd thing to say as a compliment. Goes on to mention his success at bringing younger voters into the Democratic fold and getting them energized about politics. Touts that as a big plus point for him.
• 9:10 - Uh-oh - the question of the Bush/Clinton presidential dynasty is brought up to Hillary. Is asked how she can be an “agent of change” when she is part of a long-time political tag team. Brings up the “prosperity” of Bill’s presidency. Kind of tired. But she then hits her home run for the night. “It took a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush,; it may take another Clinton to clean up after the second one (Bush).” That’s going to stick in voters minds. It brings down the house and sends the debate into a frenzied commercial break. Amazing…
• 9:18 - Iraq: Hillary saves her harshest criticism for President Bush. Won;t make a firm timetable commitment to getting troops out after she’s inaugurated. Obama also takes the safe route and chooses to discuss the collective strategy on Iraq of the Democrats and derides McCain’s “100 years” comment. Then boldly states that he is the best candidate to deliver the Dem’s message on Iraq in the general campaign, noting his “consistent” opposition to the war. Wolf calls it a “clear swipe” at Hillary. No need to inject anything here, Mr. Blitzer. Hillary laments the “swipe,” saying that the two had been “having such a good time…” Whatever that means.
• 9:30 - Iraq debate continues: He thinks it will be easier to battle the GOP nominee in the fall if the Dem nominee can “stand up and say that they have opposed this (Iraq) all along.” Gives a good rip into Hillary’s pro-war vote as an electability issue. It’s a strong point for him. Hillary is getting hammered on this, looking really tired in trying to explain away her Iraq record while still not calling it a “mistake.” Great stuff for Barack in the final few minutes.
• 9:35 - Hardball from Blitzer: He asks Hillary to better explain an Iraq dodge - “Are you saying you were naive in trusting Pres. Bush (on the Iraq vote)?” HRC responds - “Nice try, Wolf.”
• 9:37 - Obama: Clear that the 2002 Iraq vote “was a vote to go to war.” Swiping at Hillary again. Also states that it is “important” for “a president to be right from day one…” Another mild swipe…
• 9:38 - Final commercial break. This thing is in some serious overtime.
• 9:42 - That’s bizarre.. Viewers miss a part of a Q while watching a Bose headphone ad. It cuts back into the debate, where Obama is discussing sex/violence on TV. Clearly trying to speed things up.
• 9:45 - Finally… Bill comes up in the discussion. The Hillary cackle breaks out as HRC is asked how she can “control” Bil in the White House she can’t “control him on the campaign trail.” Just a nasty Q… That could have been handled a lot better. Hillary handles it with ease.
• 9:47 - Only one question on Bill, then on to the final question. Lots of juicy stuff cut out of this. Final Q from Blitzer is a shocker: Is there “any chance” that the two candidates would be interested in a “Hillary/Obama, Obama/Hillary” ticket for the general. Lots of laughs, lots of humor. Then it’s a serious and dodgy response from Obama. What can he really say to this? No time to talk about Veep’s. “Hillary would be on anybody’s short list.” Not much on the matter from Hillary.
• 9:51 - Hillary gets in a plug for her Hallmark “town hall” special airing on Monday. It’s a crazy 60-minute buy that will show a taped town hall with HRC.
• 9:52 - Wolf brings the proceedings to an anticlimactic end (almost thirty minutes late). It’s over.

We’ll have reaction and ratings in the morning…