Talk Time Distribution for Democratic Presidential Debate and Debate Score Card

Thanks to Christopher Dodd’s website for this chart of talk time for the candidates during the debate on June 3, 2007. The second presidential debate was held on “CNN” and hosted by Wolf Blitzer. The funny thing about this chart is of course the fact that it shows Wolf Blitzer had more talk time than everyone except Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

I thought that Wolf did a good job but maybe it is because I am used to seeing him on “CNN” and not hosting a presidential debate. He maybe should have been letting the candidates talk more than he should have been talking himself.

Barack Obama had a strong 16 minutes in this debate and a strong second showing after a slow start in the first debate. Many people thought that he won this debate along with Hillary Clinton. Barack Obama had the line of the night with "You are about four and half years late on leadership on this issue," he said to Edwards in reference to an attack of his record on Iraq.

TIME magazine in partnership with CNN graded the candidates:

Hillary Clinton: A-

John Edwards: B+

Joe Biden: C+

Barack Obama: C+

Dennis Kucinich: C

Bill Richardson: C-

Chris Dodd: C-

Mike Gravel: F

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1627817_1627816,00.html