Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Vegas Fight Night: Clinton Goes After Obama, Edwards
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 16, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 16, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Things were feisty during last night's Democratic debate in Las Vegas. The big story is how frontrunner Senator Hillary Clinton seemed to hold her ground by going on the attack. The NY Times said she "shifted to a much more assertive tone" and even the NY Post thinks she won the debate, though not by a knockout.
During the October 31 debate, Clinton stumbled while trying to explain her support-nonsupport of Governor Spitzer's driver's license plan, and rivals Senator Barack Obama and former Senator John Edwards seized the momentum to call her a flip-flopper and indecisive. So last night, when John Edwards implied that lobbyists owned her, Clinton said, "I've just been personally attacked again. I don't mind taking hits on my record on issues, but when somebody starts throwing mud, at least we can hope that it's both accurate and not right out of the Republican playbook."
And when Obama said, "What the American people are looking for right now is straight answers to tough questions, and that is not what we've seen out of Senator Clinton on a host of issues," Clinton parried back, "Well, I hear what Senator Obama is saying, and he talks a lot about stepping up and taking responsibility and taking strong positions. But when it came time to step up and decide whether or not he would support universal health-care coverage, he chose not to do that. His plan would leave 15 million Americans out."
Governor Bill Richardson tried to play the role of, if not peacemaker then, the peace bringer. "It seems that John wants to start a class war. It seems that Barack wants to start a generational war. It seems that Sen. Clinton, with all due respect on her plan on Iraq, doesn't end the war. All I want to do is give peace a chance." Hmm, sounds like he's angling for a cabinet position.
Update: WNBC's Gabe Presman thinks CNN did a terrible job with debate coverage: "Once again, the punditocracy won and the American people are the losers."
Tagged
All I
barack obama
barackobama
Bill Richardson
clinton
cnn
election 2008
election2008
governor
Governor Spitzer
health
hillary clinton
hillaryclinton
iraq
john edwards
johnedwards
las vegas
news
ny post
ny times
obama
once
people
Politics
republican
Senator Barack Obama
Senator Clinton
Senator Hillary Clinton
Senator John Edwards
Senator Obama
spitzer
vegas
wnbc
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 10:34 a.m. ET
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
News
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD searching for 'person of interest' in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .