By Lee Cary ——Bio and Archives--November 18, 2007
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"She put pressure on Governor Spitzer of New York to drop that driver's license deal before the debate. So when tonight when the driver's license deal came up she was able, you know, to get out of it with her one word answer. There was no discussion. So she was able to pivot out of what had been an issue that could have driven her down again."Anderson Cooper, probably thinking about whom he was going to toss the discussion to next, let the comment pass without probing. "Really, David," he didn't say, "and just exactly how did she bring that pressure to bear on Spitzer?" Gergen found it interesting that both Obama and Edwards were booed when they confronted Clinton, but he didn't note the absence of reciprocity. Clinton hit back with impunity--no boos there. She clearly had the most aggressive, if not largest, fan base in the house. At the very beginning of the debate, Clinton joked that "this pant suit is asbestos tonight." Her fans loved it--bring it on. Then, about seven minutes later, she said she had received mud "out of the Republican playbook." (Point: No true Democrat would disagree with her.) It put the "boys club" on notice that she was loaded for bear (or boys, rather), and put her supporters on notice that they should back her. But, then she isn't running as a woman. Blitzer missed the opportunity to ask, "Specifically, Senator Clinton, what mud are you talking about?" The influence of the pro-Clinton audience discouraged the genuine debate atmosphere that the "Let's get ready to rumble" fanfare had heralded. Nevertheless, Anderson Cooper began the post-event commentary with
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