Democratic Debate in Philadelphia

Wednesday, April 16, 2008 | 7:03 PM

And so it begins...
Openers: Obama starts off reiterating his point about disappointed voters in Pennsylvania, emphasizing the word "frustrated" in place of "bitter."
Both restate what we've heard so many times in the last few weeks, pitching their understanding leadership.
They look tired.
Right off the bat, getting at the Big Question: Why don't you just run together?
This is not a likely scenario.
The task is laid out before them, these two are going to have to distinguish their remarkably similar policies and positions throughout this debate.

That was the warm up. Gibson asks about "bittergate."
Obama defends himself by again, not taking back the sentiment but restating it in a non-offensive way. He's presenting it as a "wedge" issue- which is useful down the road if the GOP uses it against him. Should he be the nominee, it will get used against him, it was a foolish and impolitic thing to say and it, along with Rev. Wright, will be brought up by the 527s.

Hillary's rebuttal: Harkens back to her grandfather and brings the hammer down on Obama, saying these much discussed "disappointed" Pennsylvanians do not cling to guns and religion. He's offended and insulted them, she wants to make sure you know that.