Clark (B) -- He's reading his resume too much, and gets visibly jittery on most domestic issues. And although he did a decent job deflecting the issues related to his Democratic cred, he cannot wiggle out of his multitudinous positions on the war.
Dean (B) -- Self-effacing about the Primal Scream, and more consistent on making his points about having shown courage to take tough stands. But he's de-fanged. It's hard to look at him and not think about the Val Air Ballroom, um, "concession" speech. And what a shame: Nobody riffs better about the need for Democrats to redefine, and recapture from the GOP, the very definitions and terms of our most important public debates.
Edwards (A) -- Watch out for Edwards. Repeat: Watch out for Edwards. He was sandbagged about the Islam question, and yet still managed to be quite self-effacing and nimble on his feet. He has the right answers on the 2nd Amendment, and his talk about poverty is nothing short of courageous because there's no pandering to people who basically do not vote. He could move up into second in NH just as he did in IA.
Kucinich (D) -- Well, you've locked up the maple syrup vote, Dennis. But do you really think you can build a foundation among the waffle and pancake constituencies to win?
Kerry (B) -- Playing safe is smart, and all Kerry needs right now are "B"'s to stay at the head of the class. It's far easier (and much smarter) to run out the clock in the mere seven days between Iowa and New Hampshire, than to do so for the seven or so weeks of Dean's front-runnership leading into Iowa.
Lieberman (C) -- Can the Senator please answer a question without telling people how well he knows himself, and how everybody from George Bush to burly labor goons thinks he's just peachy? I just think he's just preachy. Though my least favorite candidate, I would vote for him if he went through one debate without going over the time limit more often than not. But he can't, because Joe has all the answers.
Sharpton (F) -- Guess what, Al -- Jesse did do better than you will Tuesday, and not just because he knows the difference between the Federal Reserve and the International Monetary Fund. Stop cutting jokes, and start answering the questions you're asked. Or get off stage to leave time for those who have more than platitudes to offer.
