Politics

AUSTIN (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ― Tonight's debate between Senators Clinton and Obama is the last one before the Texas primary on March 4.  CBS 11's Jack Fink is there and blogging live as the debate goes on.

8:28 p.m.


Debate wrapping up. Let's prepare for the spin. Watch Tracy Rowlett coming up on TXA 21 News from 8:30 to 9 p.m. Tracy and I will see you at 10 p.m. on CBS 11 News.


8:26 p.m.


Now another difference with just 15 minutes left: The Iraq War.

Obama says Clinton was wrong to vote for it to begin with.

He says years ago, when he was an Illinois State Senator, that he predicted that it would be bad for the military. A lot of applause.

Now they are being asked to acknowledge that the surge has improved Iraq, something Republicans have hammered Democrats on. She said yes, but still wants to bring one to two brigades home each month.

Obama said the surge has reduced violence. He calls it a strategic gain, but that the war was still a policy blunder and a major mistake.




8:18 p.m.



This is the second big spark.

Healthcare:  Senator Clinton going after Senator Obama's health plan, saying it's not universal.

Obama disagrees saying just because he doesn't require adults to have health insurance doesn't mean they can't get covered under his plan.






8:07 p.m.


Obama says Clinton went about it the wrong way to reform healthcare back in the 1990s.


8:05 p.m.


Will Obama have a zinger for her? Maybe not. Analysts have told me Obama needs to keep cool and talk about the issues.





8:02 p.m.


Clinton's response: The first blow.
On the speeches, she said, "It's not change you can believe in, but change you can Xerox." Crowd moans.
Reporters in filing center writing feverishly.

Now Clinton feels emboldened and points out differences in their healthcare plans.




7:59 p.m.



CNN is trying to get the candidates to take the gloves off.

Obama rejects allegation he plagiarized from Massachusetts governor's speech.  He calls it the silly season of politics people don't like.




7:48 p.m.



We're half way through the debate, and so far, it's very friendly and polite.

They're each getting their points across and receiving applause.

This may surprise analysts who predicted the gloves would be coming off.  Let's see what happens in the second half.




7:41 p.m.



Now a major issue to Texans:  illegal immigration.
I hear more agreement and little disagreement.  They're attacking the Bush administration policies.




7:13 p.m.


Senator Obama's introduction.

Mentions how he and Senator Clinton were friends before this campaign and will continue to be afterwards.

He's talking about the people he's met on the campaign trail.

Obama says he and Clinton agree on many ideas.




7:10 p.m.


Here we go.  The moment everyone has been waiting for.

Opening statements.  Hillary Clinton lost the coin toss and is going first.

Talking about her first job down here in Austin 36 years ago.  She talked about former Texas Governor Ann Richard and Congresswoman Barbara Jordan who also taught here at the LBJ school of Public Affairs.




6:58p.m.
Chelsea Clinton just came into the debate hall and received a round of applause. Didn't see former President Clinton yet. We're waiting for the candidates to come in.

6:53 p.m.
Just a few minutes to go before what's arguably the most important debate in the battle for the Democratic nomination for President.



The U-T campus is all abuzz!  Supporters of Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are all fired up.

Right now, I'm inside the media filing center on the other side of the debate hall.  They've just sung the national anthem in the final moments before the debate. 

All of the media, and there are hundreds of us from Texas, across the country, even Europe and Japan, are stationed in the filing center in the recreational sports center. 

The big question tonight a lot of people are asking will the debate be a boxing match or polite like the last debate in Los Angeles.

We will soon see.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)