"Obama rises above sea level"

Roger Simon (Politico):

Barack Obama predicted the Democratic debate in Des Moines on Sunday was going to be like a game of bumper cars. Instead, it turned out more like a ride on the Tunnel of Love.

John Edwards said Hillary Clinton “did a terrific job” in fighting for health care in the 1990s.

Clinton said Joe Biden was “absolutely right” in describing how difficult it is going to be to get out of Iraq.

Chris Dodd said, “I agree with what Hillary has just said here” about mere mortals not being able really to understand “the wisdom and power of God.”

And even Mike Gravel — the Grumpy Old Man of the Democratic field — said: “What I believe in is love.”

Because, after all, love is all you need.

So it was that kind of debate. Dull. (Was that woman in the audience behind ABC moderator George Stephanopoulos actually sleeping or just resting her eyes?)

Not that there is anything wrong with that. Debates are supposed to be informative, not exciting.

And wasn’t this something like the 50th time the Democrats have debated this year? Or this month? We forget. It has been a lot anyway. And it has seemed like more.

By now all the candidates know what they want to say and how they want to say it.

The previous debates have not moved the poll numbers very much, and the candidates now realize that attacks and “take-downs” of the other candidates are probably less important than each building up a positive image of himself or herself.

Thus, John Edwards, who sharply attacked Hillary Clinton in the last debate, was much more subdued in this one and even wanted to be the healer.

In the midst of a discussion on nuclear warfare, the invasion of other countries and the use of “bunker-busting” bombs, Edwards said: “How about a little hope and optimism? Where did it go?”

Because, when you get right down to it, all you need is love.

But while the debate pretty much stayed at sea level for all 90 minutes, there was a high point or two and I thought Barack Obama did the best in advancing his message.

His campaign accurately has identified his greatest weakness — lack of national experience — and has devised a strategy to turn it into a strong point.

Obama didn’t just exploit opportunities during the debate, he created them.

Thus, in a discussion about how many U.S. troops should be left behind in Iraq after a general withdrawal, Obama said: “But the thing I wish had happened was that all the people on this stage had asked these questions before they authorized us getting in. And I make that point because earlier on we were talking about the issue of experience. Nobody had more experience than Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney and many of the people on this stage that authorized this war.”

In a discussion about political polarization in America, Obama responded: “If you're tired of the backbiting and the score-keeping and the special-interest-driven politics of Washington, if you want somebody who can bring the country together around a common purpose and rally us around a common destiny, then I’m your guy.”

And even in an off-the-wall discussion as to whether the power of prayer can stop hurricanes, bridge collapses and disease, Obama answered: “We don’t have the power to prevent illness in all cases, but we do have the power to make sure that every child gets a regular checkup and isn’t going to the emergency room for treatable illnesses like asthma.

“We may not have the power to prevent a hurricane, but we do have the power to make sure that the levees are properly reinforced and we’ve got a sound emergency plan.

“And so, part of what I pray for is the strength and the wisdom to be able to act on those things that I can control. And that’s what I think has been lacking sometimes in our government.”

Obama has gotten better in these debates and even though he has announced he is going to limit his future participation to only eight or ten or 50 or so more this year — or is it this month? — he did a good job Sunday.

“Whoever wins the primary I believe is going to win the general election,” he said.

And one gets the impression he is beginning to believe it is going to be him.