Ohio Debate between Clinton and Obama

Barak Obama & Hillary Clinton
20th debate between Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama took place in Ohio. Clinton seemed to be more keen on positioning herself as a fighter who could take on Republicans in the Presidential elections while Obama by contrast seemed far more interested in establishing himself as a cool conciliator, who could bridge the differences that divide his party and the nation.

The debate lasted 90 min and featured strong jabs, deep dives into health care policy, pointed arguments over the meaning of words—and another cordial, high road finish.

Clinton argued that the differences matter; while Obama, turning aside most of the distinctions large or small, used his time to rise above the arguments, elevate the conversation and invoke the larger causes that dominate his campaign speeches.

The emotional high point proved to be the debate on Iraq war, when Clinton accused Obama of changing stance having given a good speech against the war at first but then, in essence, having an identical record to hers' after he came to the Senate. Obama dismissed that argument dramatically, saying Iraq "was a big strategic blunder."

Clinton complained early on that she seemed to get all the questions first—suggesting that this trend gave her opponent more time to formulate an answer, and echoing her campaign's recent line of attack that the media has given Obama a free ride.

The two candidates discussed the much debated health care plans for 16 min focussing on how each of their campaigns had used accurate or inaccurate allegations to describe them.

The candidates ended the debate by throwing bouquets at each other.