Hillary: Palin 'Composed...Effective' During Debate

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Hillary: Palin 'Composed...Effective' During Debate

October 03, 2008 4:19 PM

ABC News' Nitya Venkataraman Reports: If you were asking her to score it, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., would describe Sen. Joe Biden's debate performance as "flawless", and tell you she'd always expected high marks for Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on the debate stage.

"I think she's very good," Clinton said, praising Palin on Ryan Seacrest's Los Angeles-based radio show Friday morning. "It's amazing: she's been thrust into the national spotlight with very little preparation and I think that, all things considered, you saw a very composed and effective debater last night."

Praise for Palin's debate performance aside, Clinton reiterated her support for her former Democratic rivals during the morning radio interview and said "the real issue is who is better for America."

Referencing the current challenges facing the country -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's call for a potential $7 billion loan to California run day-to-day operations in his state among them -- the New York senator said "the Obama-Biden ticket is much more likely to deal with these tough problems and I think the McCain-Palin ticket, as we saw again last night, is offering pretty much the same prescription which helped to get us where we are today."

As for the debates themselves, the New York senator laughingly said she enjoys taking in a debate when neither she nor her husband are required to participate. It was hard to watch her husband face-off on the debate stage, Clinton said, and "nerve-wracking" to play her own tapes back. "It's like watching my daughter do something. It's just a human reaction when somebody you love or you're really rooting for is in that kind of position," Clinton said.

Clinton is in Los Angeles for an environmentally-themed Saturday fundraiser "Angelenos Go Green for Obama" to raise money for the Democratic presidential candidate and Democrats in November Senate races. The event will be headlined by longtime Clinton friend Jon Bon Jovi who hosted a New Jersey bash for Sen. Barack Obama last month which hauled in more than $4 million.

Both Sen. Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, have come under recent fire for what some interpret as lukewarm support of Obama who defeated the New York senator four months ago after a bruising, eighteen-month battle for the Democratic presidential nomination that left deep divisions within the party.

Despite her praise for Palin, Clinton stood firm behind her party encouraging voters to "strike the center" and "figure out how we're going to work our way through this" to "come out of it stronger than we went in."

"What I'm hoping is on November 4 we are going to clean house from top to bottom, we're going to get back to having people who know what they're doing and can explain it," Clinton said. "But I am really hopeful we're going to elect strong Democrats, we're going to get back to putting the people's business first, we're going to get a much better balance between the do-nothing folks and the do-everything folks."

October 3, 2008 in Biden, Joe, Clinton, Hillary, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Palin, Sarah, Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (813)

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Even Charlie Gibson last night was disgusted with the coverage. Every time he tried to act professional and comment truthfully, he was cut off by the bias talkers.

Posted by: Marilyn610 | Oct 3, 2008 4:43:00 PM

I noticed that too. Its a shame that Obama is being forced down the throats of Americans by the media...he is an empty suit with no substance!

Posted by: Kathy | Oct 3, 2008 4:47:39 PM

Go Hillary!!! Stop saying she's lukewarm. What are John Edwards and Bill Richardson doing? Give me a break.

Clinton/Bayh 2012!

Posted by: Angry Black Democrat | Oct 3, 2008 4:48:30 PM

vote for the best candidate for our children, our troops and America on November 4th....that's why i'm voting for Senator Clinton

Posted by: chris | Oct 3, 2008 4:48:54 PM

Hillary has to toe the line with Party Loyalty and thank God we don't have to.
Biden lectured and Gov. Palin spoke to Middle Americans and we want that Washington outsider in Washington!!!!!
Hillary knows the sexism and treatment of Gov. Palin....Hillary knows it well, and instead of eating our own, let's promote our own....especially bipartisan McCain/Palin ticket..each bucking their own party when needed and working with Dems and Independents.
I am a passionate Hillary supporter who switched to McCain the minute Hillary withdrew AND AM THRILLED McCAIN PICKED PALIN!
NEVER OBAMA....God this country would suffer...and I would count the days until the next terriorist attack on our soil.

Posted by: DLM | Oct 3, 2008 4:50:02 PM

I think all Hillary supporters should vote for McCain in order to make sure Obama goes back to thugland...that way, in 2012, Hillary will become the first woman President!

Hillary 2012!

NoBama 2008!

Posted by: Kathy | Oct 3, 2008 4:50:41 PM

it is highly unlikely that even if mccain wins, palin will have any real authority or power for the next four years, and we will definitely be faced with a better choice by that time (Senator Clinton) then we are now (obama/mccain)

Posted by: chris | Oct 3, 2008 4:51:32 PM

Hillary and Bill are voting McCain/Palin too....we want her back in 2012 against Gov. Palin...c'mon now....we ALL want to see that.

Posted by: DLM | Oct 3, 2008 4:51:38 PM

Hillary has been campaigning for Obama and will continue to do so. The fact that she made a kind comment toward Palin doesn't mean she is endorsing her or McCain. It looks like the fake Democrats for McCain are back on to get mileage points today.

Posted by: bhciapol | Oct 3, 2008 4:52:19 PM

Posted by: chris | Oct 3, 2008 4:51:32 PM

I agree!

Posted by: Kathy | Oct 3, 2008 4:52:52 PM

Hey, I think we're on something here! Seriously, if all the Hillary supporters, who have seen how sleazy Obama/Biden are, will vote for McCain/Palin, we will be able to vote Hillary in office in 2012. She's the BEST candidate of the three, even though her own party, stabbed her in the back. Lets send out the rally cry, to vote McCain in......we don't need a liar like Obama as our President!

Posted by: Bakersfield | Oct 3, 2008 4:55:13 PM

What else could Hillary say? If she's negative the pundits will say it's sour grapes. Better to give Palin some praise even though to most Americans she still came across in the debate as someone who is clueless and cannot deal with the complex issues facing our country. Women see it more than men do and the polls reflect it as well.

Posted by: Carl Steccato | Oct 3, 2008 4:55:17 PM

You know how to do it don't you you bit--..... you think if he looses you will run in 12 yes,you will run but it won't be the white house sweetie...

Posted by: me who didn't buy her crap | Oct 3, 2008 4:56:48 PM

@ bhciapol :

I don't see the fire in Hillary and Bill for supporting Obama. If the truth be known, they probably can't stand him. And yeah, what happened to Richardson....after he backstabbed Hillary for a chance at the VP position, Obama threw him under the bus as well. Have to hand it to Obama, he IS in this election for himself, not for America. I've NEVER seen a politician with so much evil and greed as Obama, using other folks for personal gain!

Posted by: Bakersfield | Oct 3, 2008 4:58:18 PM

McCain has said he will appoint the best and the brightest to his cabinet, from both parties....the wealthiest to receive only a $1 year. He'd be smart to appoint Hillary and he is only interested in one term...so she will be running again in 2012. Obama CANNOT win if that is to happen...although I'm not saying he would learn something in 4 years and maybe win a second term. We'd be voting him out of office so fast it would make Jimmy Carter's days look like Reagan's.
NEVER OBAMA....THIS HILLARY SUPPORTER FOR McCAIN EVEN BEFORE PALIN.
Rembemering how Barack Hussein Obama campaign and MSM kicked her in the teeth everytime AND SHE NEVER COMPLAINED. I see it happening again ladies....open your eyes....do you want to wait antother 24 years?

Posted by: DLM | Oct 3, 2008 4:59:52 PM

NEVER OBAMA....THIS HILLARY SUPPORTER FOR McCAIN EVEN BEFORE PALIN.
Rembemering how Barack Hussein Obama campaign and MSM kicked her in the teeth everytime AND SHE NEVER COMPLAINED. I see it happening again ladies....open your eyes....do you want to wait antother 24 years?

Posted by: DLM | Oct 3, 2008 4:59:52 PM

Me Too! Send out the rallying cry! Hillary Supporters for McCain! Get P.U.M.A. fired up! Lets go...lets get rid of Obama!!!!

Posted by: Bakersfield | Oct 3, 2008 5:02:42 PM

Why do she and Bill lift a finger this B. Hussein? I'd be lifting my middle finger. What's with all the fundraising still? Didn't BO get enough contributions last month?
Bill and Hill need to sit this one out and let Richardson and Edwards do some campaigning for Bozo/Biden.

Posted by: DLM | Oct 3, 2008 5:03:28 PM

To read some of the neo-con posts, you get the idea that all it takes to be a supporter is NOT calling Palin an idiot.

I guess that works if your expectations are LOW enough and your desperation is HIGH enough..

Posted by: JR | Oct 3, 2008 5:03:54 PM

I will vote for Hillary in November.

Posted by: Carol Alabama | Oct 3, 2008 5:04:29 PM

HILLARY SUPPORTER FOR MCCAIN/PALIN 08!

HILLARY 2012!

Posted by: tammy | Oct 3, 2008 5:05:03 PM

God, what a bunch of crack heads and dumb neo-cons on here today. I guess school's out.

Posted by: JR | Oct 3, 2008 5:06:08 PM

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