Clinton Fails to Turn Tide in Debate

Hillary Clinton had to tread a difficult line in last night's debate—make a dent in Obama's credibility and momentum without sounding too negative—and she seemed to fall short of making any real headway, writes Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News. Clinton tried repeatedly to make the case that she's ready to be president and he isn't, but Obama "coolly deflected her attacks," Slater says.

The debate provided Clinton with perhaps her last big chance to stem the Obama tide, note Carrie Budoff Brown and Kenneth Vogel of Politico, and she doesn't appear to have done so. "Clinton took some shots at Obama, but she also passed up opportunities, reflecting an uncertainty about the direction she should take her candidacy. Obama looked like he was trying to run out the clock." (More presidential election stories.)