From NBC's Mark Hudspeth and Domenico Montanaro
Obama fired back at McCain while on stage in Columbus, Ohio, on the subject of Iraq and Al Qaeda.

McCain had gone after Obama this morning, saying, "…I am told that Senator Obama made the statement that if Al Qaeda came back to Iraq after he withdraws -- after the American troops are withdrawn -- then he would send military troops back, if Al Qaeda established a military base in Iraq. I have some news: Al Qaeda is in Iraq. Al Qaeda, it's called Al Qaeda in Iraq, and my friends if we left they wouldn't be establishing a base, they wouldn't be establishing a base, they'd be taking a country. And I'm not going to allow that to happen my friends. I will not surrender. I will not surrender to Al Qaeda."

Obama gladly engaged:

"I've got some news for John McCain, that is there was no such thing Al Qaeda in Iraq until George Bush and John McCain decided to invade.

"I've got some news for John McCain. I've got some news for John McCain. He took us into a war, along with George Bush that should have never been authorized, never been waged. They took their eye off the people who were responsible for 9/11 and that would be Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, that is stronger now than at any time since 2001. I've been paying attention John McCain!

"John McCain may like to say that he wants to follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of Hell. But so far all he's done is follow George Bush into a misguided war in Iraq that's cost us thousands of lives and billions of dollars and that I intend to bring to an end so that we can actually start going after Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and in the hills of Pakistan, like we should have been doing in the first place. That's the news John McCain!

"I respect John McCain, but he's tied to the politics of the past; we're about the policies of the future. He's the party of yesterday. We want to be the party of tomorrow. That's why I'm running for President of the United States of America."

If Obama's the nominee, this was a preview of things to come.

From NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann
HOUSTON, Texas -- Houston, we have a contrast.

Bill Clinton is fond of enumerating the differences of policy opinion between his wife and her main rival, often listing off their areas of disagreement on health care and trade. But residents of Space City USA were treated to a new "huge difference" during one of the former president's campaign stops on a day-long blitz of Houston today.

"Hillary has always supported the manned space program just as I did when I was president," he told a crowd of over 250 who gathered in a picturesque neighborhood park in a Houston suburb today. "Her opponent says we should downgrade man space travel and upgrade robotic travel."

The issue of space industry employment is key in a town home to NASA's largest R&D facility. According to the Greater Houston Partnership, the Johnson Space Center employs 3,000 federal workers and as many as 14,000 contracted employees.

"There are 16,000 jobs and a lot of Americans' futures riding on this centered here in Houston," Clinton said today. "You have to make a decision whether you care about this."

Another contrast Clinton continued to push in his remarks today centers around a new Obama ad airing in Texas markets. "There's a one-minute ad on in Texas telling you how terrible things were in the 90s," he said, "Well, I think we did pretty well in the 1990s." 

"If you believe things were bad in the 90s, just as bad as in this decade," noted the former president, "and you believe everybody should be eliminated from being considered for president if they did anything good, I think you should vote for him."

But, he added, if not -- Hillary's your candidate.

From NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan
The Obama campaign crossed the one-million-donor threshold today. The ticker on their Web site reads: 1,002,842 people.
 
At last night's debate Obama said that 90 percent of his money is raised online in small-dollar donations, an average of $109. Aides have said that the campaign barely needs to work the phones, making fundraising calls anymore. Most of the work is done online.
 
Speculation on the Internet is that the campaign may have raised as much as $50 million in February alone. Staffers smile smugly when you ask about numbers, but have been tight lipped about when they will announce their February figures and how much it might be.

From NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Obama's rally here at Ohio State University started an hour and 45 minutes behind schedule today. Though I'm told the crowd waited pretty patienty for the senator and didn't boo his introducers on the stage, which has happened in times past.
 
A snowstorm in Cleveland, which has brought a steady white flurry to the city since late Monday night, made the drive to the airport and taking off a cumbersome affair. The campaign plane sat on the tarmac for almost two hours as it was de-iced and the runway was cleared.
 
So far no events will be cancelled. The staff seems determined to stick to the schedule, no matter how delayed they are. The rally in Columbus was critical -- he has yet to campaign here. Next up on the schedule is a flight to Texas with a town hall in the Dallas suburbs focused on the economy and a rally at Texas State University late tonight.

From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy
The big news from today's McCain town hall in Tyler, Texas, is his decision to emphasize Obama's answer to a hypothetical question from NBC's Tim Russert in last night's debate about reserving the right to send troops back into Iraq if Al Qaeda was to set up a base there. Here is McCain's response from the beginning of the town hall and then Russert's questions and Obama's answer.

"I'm not embarrassed to tell you that I did not watch the Democrat debate last night," McCain said, "but I am told that Senator Obama made the statement that if Al Qaeda came back to Iraq after he withdraws -- after the American troops are withdrawn -- then he would send military troops back, if Al Qaeda established a military base in Iraq. I have some news: Al Qaeda is in Iraq. Al Qaeda, it's called Al Qaeda in Iraq, and my friends if we left they wouldn't be establishing a base, they wouldn't be establishing a base, they'd be taking a country. And I'm not going to allow that to happen my friends. I will not surrender. I will not surrender to Al Qaeda.

"It's pretty remarkable when Al Qaeda is in Iraq, and want to withdraw from Iraq and then say you will go back to Iraq if they have a base there. That's -- when you examine that statement it's pretty remarkable."

RUSSERT'S INITIAL QUESTION TO CLINTON: I want to ask both of you this question, then. If this scenario plays out and the Americans get out in totality, and Al Qaida resurges and Iraq goes to hell, do you hold the right in your mind as American president to reinvade, to go back into Iraq to stabilize it?

RUSSERT'S QUESTION TO OBAMA: Senator Obama, I want you to respond to not holding oversight for your subcommittee. But also, do you reserve a right as American president to go back into Iraq once you have withdrawn with sizable troops in order to quell any kind of insurrection or civil war?

OBAMA'S ANSWER: Now, I always reserve the right for the president -- as commander in chief, I will always reserve the right to make sure that we are looking out for American interests. And if al Qaeda is forming a base in Iraq, then we will have to act in a way that secures the American homeland and our interests abroad. So that is true, I think, not just in Iraq, but that's true in other places. That's part of my argument with respect to Pakistan. I think we should always cooperate with our allies and sovereign nations in making sure that we are rooting out terrorist organizations. But if they are planning attacks on Americans like what happened on 9/11, it is my job, it will be my job as president to make sure that we are hunting them down.

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro

CLEVELAND -- Last night's debate here had a very tense feel to it -- the combination of two very competitive Democratic candidates, two very tough questioners, it being the final showdown until the March 4 primaries, and there being so much at stake. Bottom line: Both Clinton and Obama were put on the spot and survived. Clinton came armed with her own material on Obama's record (including some new hits like the lack of hearings on his Senate subcommittee) and tried to keep him on the defensive, but he handled the pressure. Obama might have had more negative YouTube moments than Clinton, because of the initial waffle on the Farrakhan answer (though he did clean it up pretty well) and his look to Clinton to answer the Russia question first; it was clear Obama didn't want first dibs on that question. But Clinton didn't hit that question out of the park, either. She had the chance to show her real foreign policy chops and didn't. And her answers on releasing her IRS records (don't she and Bill have an accountant?) and releasing her White House schedules weren't that strong.

VIDEO: NBC Political Director Chuck Todd offers his first read on how Hillary Clinton's Saturday Night Live comment had a greater point in last night's debate.

*** It wasn't a game-changer: Given those things, it's hard to see last night's debate as changing the trajectory of this race, and that's ultimately good news for the front-runner Obama. He was a bit more defensive last night than last week and had more stumbles than in more recent encounters. But there was a reason for that: He received some very tough questions. The Farrakhan one put him between a rock (Jewish voters) and a hard place (some African-American ones), and the Russia question had the potential of making him look small compared with Clinton -- if she had nailed the question. But she didn't. Clinton really flubbed that "SNL" line. Like the "Xerox" one from last week, it seemed rehearsed. And to echo NBC's David Gregory, what's wrong with getting the first question? It allows one to set the tone of the debate…

VIDEO: MSNBC's Chris Matthews tells Keith Olbermann that Sen. Barack Obama's thrill factor is missing in his debates and is only visible in his speeches.

*** A "civil" war: It was a contentious but civil debate (South Carolina seems so long ago). And no matter who ends up winning, both will probably be better nominees for it. It's hard to pick a winner. Clinton was more prepared, but Obama survived under some tough questions from the moderators and volleys from Clinton, and that's probably the name of the game for him at this late date in the campaign. And a final point: Obama being seated really helps him. He doesn't have to shout into a microphone. He can deliver his subtle zingers, but with a calm, collected tone. Now on to the contests in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island, and Vermont

*** Obama's financial advantage: Watching local TV here in Ohio, it feels like Obama has a 4-to-1 advantage -- with SEIU, UFCW and Obama just blitzing the airwaves compared with Clinton. It's happening in all four states. In fact, per TV ad expert Evan Tracey, Obama has outspent Clinton $23 million to $14 million in the last 30 days. How is she expected to hold a big lead if she gets outspent this badly? The third party groups are like salt in the Clinton wound.

*** I'm sorry, so sorry, please accept my apology: McCain apologizing yesterday after a radio host who introduced the Arizona senator referred to Obama as "Barack Hussein Obama" was another reminder of how many apologies we've seen in this race -- many of them to Obama. Off the top of our head, there was Biden (for the "clean" and "articulate" remark), Billy Shaheen (for wondering if Obama ever sold drugs), Bob Johnson (another drugs reference), and now McCain (for the shock jock's "Barack Hussein Obama" line). It reflects just how hard it is to run against Obama. As Peggy Noonan wrote earlier in the month, "Hillary is the easier candidate, Mr. Obama the tougher. Hillary brings negative; it's fair to hit her back with negative. Mr. Obama brings hope, and speaks of a better way. He's not Bambi, he's bulletproof." NBC's Abby Livingston also makes this observation: While some Clinton surrogates were late to apologize to Obama, McCain did it very quickly. If the Clintons -- of all people -- can get into trouble with African Americans for statements about Obama, then just think of some of the troubles McCain might have. 

VIDEO: A campaign speaker's attack on Barack Obama before a John McCain rally prompted an apology from the Arizona senator. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports.

*** On the trail: Clinton attends an "Economic Solutions Summit" in Zanesville, OH, then campaigns in St. Clairsville, OH; Obama holds a rally in Columbus and then campaigns in Duncanville, TX, and San Marcos, TX; McCain also campaigns in Texas, including town halls in Tyler and San Antonio, and two fundraisers in Houston; and Bill Clinton makes five stops in the Lone Star State, hitting early voting events in Houston and Austin and a rally at the University of Texas at Austin.

Countdown to Ohio and Texas: 6 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 251 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 328 days

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USA Today writes, "Aggressive cuts and thrusts over Iraq, health care and campaign tactics dominated the 20th and possibly final Democratic debate Tuesday as Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama angled for advantage a week before a crucial set of primaries."

VIDEO: MSNBC's Keith Olbermann talks to a political panel about Sen. Hillary Clinton's response about her Iraq war vote as something she wishes she could take back.

The New York Times: "Questions about which approach Mrs. Clinton would take to sway voters were quickly answered as she immediately confronted Mr. Obama, and she was relentless throughout the meeting. She insisted on responding to virtually every point that he made - often interrupting the debate moderators, Brian Williams and Tim Russert of NBC, as they tried to move on. At the same time, it was one of the most detailed and specific of all the debates, with both Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama giving long explanations of their records and views."

The Los Angeles Times leads with the pledge from both Dems that they could opt out of NAFTA.

The Boston Globe: "At times last night, Clinton's frustration at her position was evident. Not 20 minutes into the debate, she expressed exasperation at being asked first about the North American Free Trade Agreement, an especially volatile issue in Ohio over which the two Democrats have tangled."

The AP: "The tone was polite yet pointed, increasingly so as the 90-minute session wore on, a reflection of the stakes in a race in which Obama has won 11 straight primaries and caucuses and Clinton is in desperate need of a comeback."

The Washington Post: "The tone of the debate was generally civil but rarely relaxed."

Reuters saw Clinton's difficulty in pronouncing Putin's successor's name, Dmitry Medvedev, as a problem for the former First Lady. "In a campaign where the New York senator and former first lady has stressed she is ready to serve as president from the first day, as opposed to Obama, the scene was reminiscent of past campaign debates where foreign policy missteps have hurt presidential candidates."

VIDEO: MSNBC's Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews discuss who won the MSNBC Democratic debate.

Time: "The 90-minute affair … had most of the same features we have come to expect of the last round of Clinton-Obama debates: strong jabs, deep dives into health care policy, pointed arguments over the meaning of words-and another cordial, high road finish." More: "At times, Obama showed a lawyer's flair for conceding the small points that aren't worth arguing about. This pattern was most visible in an unexpected exchange over whether Obama has sufficiently distanced himself from Louis Farrakhan's expressions of support for his candidacy. After Obama had said he has long denounced Farrakhan's anti-semitic statements, Clinton said Obama had to do more and flat-out reject his support. Obama, sensing a tiny opening that Clinton had carved in his performance, asked whether there was much of a semantic difference between the words "reject" and "denounce," but then defused the situation by ceding the point to Clinton and agreeing to do both."

Howard Fineman: "Bottom line, on my scorecard: a tie at best, and certainly not enough of a win for Clinton to change the dynamics of the nomination contest, which Obama is poised to lock up. Clinton wanted to be Joe Frazier, the relentless one, glaring across the ring for 90 minutes at the infuriating man with quick moves and tassels on his high-laced shoes. She complained about the referees, charged ahead as she had to do. She devastated him with a few power punches-but not enough of them-and didn't level him."

The Boston Globe's Peter Canellos: "Clinton, who is trailing in delegates, used her strength as a weapon, returning to the specifics of her healthcare plan as if determined to expose the superficiality of Obama's. He used his own strength as a means of defense, repeatedly answering her challenges with high-road appeals to find common ground.

"At times -- such as when she pushed him to denounce Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan in stronger terms - she seemed to go too far, but as the candidate who is trailing, she needed to take some risks and shake things up. In the end, she may have chafed some viewers but succeeded in taking the fight to Obama. Nonetheless, he seemed to emerge unscathed after skating through some verbal thin ice of his own." 

Roger Simon: "Hillary Clinton as the inevitable Democratic nominee didn't work. Hillary Clinton as the front-runner didn't work. So how about Hillary Clinton as the victim? That was her theme at the Democratic debate with Barack Obama in Cleveland Tuesday night."

Ron Fournier has a similar take: "After trying to save her sinking candidacy with awkward turns of flattery and sarcasm, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton resorted to a new tactic in Tuesday night's debate: self-pity. 'In the last several debates, I seem to get the first question all the time,' the New York senator said, sounding more like a put-upon third-grader than a presidential candidate. The topic was her past support of the North American Free Trade Agreement, an unpopular position in jobs-strapped Ohio. Rather than explain her evolution on trade, Clinton complained about the order of questioning and suggested that she agreed with a comedy skit accusing the media of favoring rival Barack Obama.

"'I just find it curious. And if anybody saw "Saturday Night Live," maybe we should ask Barack if he's comfortable and needs another pillow,' she said with a smile. 'I just find it kind of curious that I keeping getting the first question.' It is not unusual for politicians to feel sorry for themselves. Obama is not above whining about criticism and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, has one of the thinnest skins in politics. But the New York senator's poor-me attitude punctuated a jarring week of shifting strategies from a desperate Clinton camp."

MSNBC's David Shuster, looking at the past transcripts, notes that out of the last 10 Democratic debates (including Tuesday night), Hillary Clinton got the first question six times. Barack Obama got the first question four times.
MSNBC Ohio 2/26/08 Clinton
CNN Texas 2/21/08 Clinton
CNN Los Angeles 1/31/08 Obama
CNN SC 1/21/08 Clinton
MSNBC Nevada 1/15/08 Clinton
ABC NH 1/5/08 Obama
DesM Register 12/13/07 Obama
NPR 12/4/07 Clinton
CNN Nevada 11/15/07 Clinton
MSNBC Philly 10/30/07 Obama

In the spin room after the debate, Obama strategist David Axelrod talked about Obama's Farrakhan answer, per NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan. "I thought it was good. I mean he was very forthright about it and answered it directly, and I felt fine about it." More: "The point is this. Louis Farrakhan said kind things about him. From what I read he didn't say it was an endorsement. Um, and uh I think Senator Obama made clear what his position was on Louis Farrakhan's anti-Semitic statements." On the Russia question and whether Obama knew Medvedev's name: "Yeah, actually I think he does. But having seen Senator Clinton try and fair, I don't think he wanted to venture too much after that. I know for a fact that he knows, it came up earlier in the day."

Gov. Ted Strickland (D) stood behind Hillary Clinton on Saturday when she issued her "Meet me in Ohio" challenge, NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli notes. So did he think she got what she wanted at last night's debate? "It was very substantive," Clinton's top Buckeye State surrogate said in the spin room. "Things do not have to be angry or divisive or loud in order to be important. And I think that 17-minute discussion they had early on about health care was an important discussion."
 
Strickland's name was invoked tonight, when Tim Russert challenged her to release her tax returns as Strickland challenged his Republican opponent to do in his 2006 election. Though he said transparency was not a "major issue" in this race, he was "happy and pleased" that Clinton indicated she might release her returns sooner. The "big news," according to Strickland, was another commitment Clinton made -- to be willing to pull out of NAFTA if she could not renegotiate it on more favorable terms. "I think the people of Ohio will take note of that commitment, and that is perhaps something that will have a significant effect on their choice."

About two weeks ago, a Quinnipiac poll showed Clinton leading Obama in Pennsylvania by 16 points, 52%-36%. Now, per a new Q poll, that lead is now six points, 49%-43%. 

The state's primary is on April 22.

A new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll shows that the contentious Dem primary is taking a toll on Clinton and Obama, as McCain leads both in national match-ups (McCain 46%, Clinton 40%; McCain 44%, Obama 42%). "The survey showed that McCain's potential advantages extend even to domestic issues, where he is considered to be most vulnerable. Even though McCain has joked about his lack of expertise on economic issues, voters picked him over Obama, 42% to 34%, as being best able to handle the economy. However, Clinton led McCain on that issue, 43% to 34%."

CLINTON: McClatchy's Lightman writes, "Bill Clinton has been spending a lot of time in small-town Ohio. He is heading to Rhode Island on Thursday. From there, he may head back to some of the lesser-known dots on Ohio's map, probably Marion or Mansfield. Is this any way for a campaign to use a former president of the United States? Sure, because it's a way to keep him out of the spotlight and still useful to his wife's White House bid. 'The Clinton campaign is sending Bill to safe places, to small cities where a visit by a former president is a really big deal,' said Darrell West, a professor of political science at Brown University in Providence, R.I."

OBAMA: Per the AP, "Sen. Christopher Dodd endorsed one-time presidential rival Barack Obama on Tuesday and said it is time for Democrats to join forces to defeat the Republicans in the fall campaign. 'I don't want a campaign that is divisive here, and there's a danger in that,' Dodd said, although he denied he was nudging Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to end her candidacy."

Before the debate, Obama was calling for a more conciliatory tone in the primary, which, of course, benefits the front-runner.

Obama's hometown church is under investigation over whether they've crossed the political line in support of Obama. 

The Boston Globe looks at how Obama's oratory has fueled his political career. "Not since the days of the whistle-stop tour and the radio addresses that Franklin D. Roosevelt used to hone his message while governor of New York has a presidential candidate been propelled so much by the force of words, according to historians and experts on rhetoric.

"Obama's emergence as the front-runner in the race for the Democratic nomination has become nearly as much a story of his speeches as of the candidate himself. He arrived on the national scene with his address to the 2004 Democratic convention, his campaign's key turning points have nearly all involved speeches, and his supporters are eager for his election-night remarks nearly as much as for the vote totals. But his success as a speaker has also invited a new line of attack by his opponents."

MCCAIN: At a minimum, the DNC, which has come under lots of criticism for its mediocre fundraising and bungling of the FL/MI primary mess, has given McCain one giant headache. He may eventually legally get out of this financial jam, but he's going to have to work for it.

VIDEO: MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell talks with Howard Dean about the Democrats filing a complaint against John McCain over campaign funds

The Cincy Enquirer writes, "Radio talk show host Bill Cunningham's mocking and harsh criticism of Democrat Barack Obama upstaged Republican presidential candidate John McCain's rally [yesterday] in Cincinnati. Sen. McCain apologized for the remarks by the WLW radio talk show host. 'I take responsibility and I repudiate what he said,' Sen. McCain told reporters after the rally at Memorial Hall."

From NBC's Chuck Todd
Phew, the entire debate had a very tense feel; a combination of two very competitive Democratic candidates and two very tough questioners. Both candidates were put on the spot and survived. Clinton came armed with her own material, from hits on Obama's record and tried to keep Obama on the defensive, but again he survived. Obama probably had more negative YouTube moments than Clinton, because of the initial waffle on the Farrakhan answer (though he did clean it up pretty well) and his look to Clinton to answer the Russia question first. It was clear Obama didn't want first dibs on that question; Neither candidate seemed comfortable enough to say Dmitry Medvedev's name but Clinton tried, Obama didn't even do that.

Overall, it's hard to see this debate as changing the trajectory of this race; Obama was a bit more defensive tonight than last week and had more stumbles tonight than in more recent encounters. Clinton really flubbed that "SNL" line and she did so early so it made it into a bunch of writeups; she should have saved it until it was more appropriate. It was a contentious debate, but civil; and both will probably be better nominees for it. 

It's hard to pick a winner; Clinton was more prepared but Obama survived and that's probably the name of the game for him at this late date in the campaign.

We'll have more thoughts later but for now, good night from Cleveland.

From NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan
The Obama campaign has launched a quiet offensive against Farrakhan and his endorsement. Obama held a private meeting with Jewish community leaders in Toledo, Ohio this past weekend, where he addressed concerns that he wasn't tough enough on Israel, on comments made by people like Farrakhan and his own pastor Jeremiah Wright praising Farrakhan. But this appears to be a thorn in the campaign's side that they are having trouble getting rid of.

From NBC's Chuck Todd
Obama's trying to have his own "moment"; the guy is very good at hugging Clinton at every turn; he's now doing it again.

 

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
For the second time tonight, Obama has used Clinton as cover on another issue. He appears a bit wavering on foreign affairs. He didn't cite any details on Putin's successor and didn't appear to have a real solid grasp. Think about, for example, how Biden might have answered this question. And Clinton deserves points for attempting to say the successor's name. She clearly at least knew who he was.

From NBC's Chuck Todd
Clinton kinda knew the name; Not sure Obama knows much about him. For what it's worth, there were major newspaper articles on Dmitri Medvedev in the last 48 hours.

 

From NBC's Chuck Todd
Anyone else notice Obama look to Clinton on the open-ended question from NBC's Tim Russert on the Russia question?

 

From NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan
For the word-o-philes out there, Obama wins with the word denounce which is more applicable to use when you find someone's positions distasteful
 
re·ject  -a verb used as an object...
1. to refuse to have, take, recognize, etc.: to reject the offer of a better job. 
2. to refuse to grant (a request, demand, etc.). 

de·nounce  -verb (used with object), -nounced, -nounc·ing. 1. to condemn or censure openly or publicly: to denounce a politician as morally corrupt. 

1. to condemn or censure openly or publicly: to denounce a politician as morally corrupt. 

From NBC's David Gregory
I have heard from many Jews who are worried about Senator Obama. Is he an anti-Semite? Is he close to Farrakan? His own pastor is close to Farrakhan. Tonight a strong attempt to assuage their fears. To say that Israel's security is sacrosanct is a strong pro-Israel statement. Beyond that, to say he wants to rebuild the relationship between Blacks and Jews is new ground. But give Senator Clinton for pushing him harder to reject Farrakhan. Here, again, he absorbed the blow, conceded the point and defused what could be a slip up for him.

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Obama did a solid job of turning Clinton's criticism on not "rejecting" Farrakhan and instead "denouncing" him. She tried to go in for the attack when it looked like at first she was coming to his defense. But he disarmed it quite well.

From NBC's Chuck Todd
To Obama's credit, he recovered a bit on the potential Farrakhan debacle at the end with trying to blur the differences; but Clinton is VERY quick on her feet. Obama clearly wasn't ready for that question.

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Obama still hedges on whether or not he'd pledge to take matching funds. He said again that he is "not yet the nominee." But if he's the nominee, he said he "will sit with McCain and make sure we have a system that's fair for both sides." But this of course begs the question of why is he hedging? Is it because he actually won't take matching funds because his money machine is just too formidable now? If that's the case, that'd certainly be hypocritical. Or is it that he will actually take matching funds, but doesn't want to give the Clinton campaign a sub-rosa talking point with superdelegates -- that by taking matching funds he'd be weaker against McCain.

From NBC's Chuck Todd
Clinton saw the opening with Obama on Farrakhan and just drove a Mack truck through it.  

From NBC's Chuck Todd
Why didn't Obama simply say he rejected Farrakhan's support? That's an answer he's going to wish he had over.

From NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan
Clinton's argument that "it takes a fighter" is interesting. It's the argument that John Edwards was making about Obama back in Iowa in December. And lately Obama has been trying to present himself as a fighter on the stump. Saying things like, "I will fight for you," its a new word in the Obama lexicon that has taken precedence lately.