Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama Square Off in Debate

After months of heated debate and stimulating battle, Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama faced off head to head for the first time ever Thursday night in an epic battle over Super Tuesday votes. Thursday's discourse will certainly have monumental effects on both the campaign and the nation for months to come. The debate allowed for a detailed and focused look on a nomination race that many believe will produce the next president of the United States. This common belief, coupled with the fact that Thursday's debate be a final discussion before Super Tuesday made Thursday's debate on of the most important and influential in U.S. history.

Here is an overview of the major highlights and important factors displayed during Thursday night's debates.

A battle for the Edwards vote:

Both Clinton and Obama recognize the need to encompass the Edwards votes that now linger. Early in the debate, both candidates compared their platforms to Edwards' in an attempt to seduce his former voters. Clinton compared her healthcare plan to Edwards', a position that will certainly gain support from his voters who focus on this issue more than any other. Similarly, Obama cited Edwards' policy of rejecting federal PAC money in an attempt to attract some Edwards' votes.

The important differences between the Candidates:

The first issue brought up during the debates sought to expose some of the differences between these two similar candidates. The three main issues brought up were healthcare, the mortgage crisis, and national security. Obama sees healthcare as an optional relationship between private and public, offering citizens a choice between the two. Clinton's plan, on the other hand, proposed the more typical democratic solution that is universal, mandatory healthcare made affordable through federal subsidies. On national security, Clinton seems to offer a more cautious approach, eager for democratic solutions, but careful in dealing with dangerous leaders of states like Iran. Obama seeks a more headstrong approach, promising to sit down with world leaders like President Ahmadinejad of Iran.

Experience:

Fortunately for Obama, he had a chance early on to counter Obama: "A lot of American's disagree...and believe we need new leadership" (On numerous claims that Clinton is better prepared to lead the nation). "I respect Hillary's record and think it's a terrific one"

When asked to counter, Clinton was given a chance to explain and expound on her experience: "I go back 35 years... when I graduated law school I went to work for the children's health fund." She later added: "I helped to reform the education system in Arkansas." and "I had a great deal of responsibility in the white house." "I have had real results in real people's lives which I am very proud of."

A long overdue union of Democrats:

From the beginning of the debate, it was clear that both candidates sought reconciliation from previous weeks dirty politics. The candidates finally unified under the democratic banner. Clinton stated early on "I hope you are all looking at the next president, whether that be Barack or I." Both candidates spoke out adamantly against the Bush administration, especially on his tax cuts on the super rich. Obama lead the attack. When asked how he would deal with Republican accusations of him being a "liberal spender" he responded: "I don't think Republican's will be in a position to argue fiscal responsibility... I will be happy to take that argument."

The Debate Winner

As the important two-hour democratic debate came to a close, it was fairly unclear as to whether or not there was a clear winner. However, it has been said that the clear winner of Thursday's debate was the Democratic Party as a whole, with positive talk about the real issues, the candidate's clearly "out-debated" their republican counterparts. As the night came to a close Wolf Blitzer asked the candidates about the possibility of a Clinton, Obama or an Obama Clinton ticket, and both seemed to respond positively. However, after tonight the former may seem more likely.

And the statement that clearly demonstrated the possible Clinton edge Thursday, which may hallmark the future of her campaign and help seal her fate as presidential nomination: "It took a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush and I think it might take another Clinton to clean up after this one."