Full disclosure before I start. I am a Clinton Supporter.
First real point I want to make. I think this kind of town hall format is far more informative than having reporters/pundits asking the question, with fixed time limits for responses.
I thought Bernie did well.
I think Hillary blew him away.
Let me explain.
Bernie was able to pivot to his key points consistently, and usually pretty consistently.
Hillary did a far better job of connecting with the individual questioners, sometimes affirming them, on more than a few occasions coming back to what they said.
Consider the one questioner who got to challenge both, the doctor /poet laureate. If you notice, near the end of Clinton’s time he was clapping with greeat energy to a response she made to someone else.
For me when she won the event was responding to the man who spent 39 years incarcerated for a murder he did not commit, including time on death row. Remember, even though she still allowed for the possibility of a capital sentece (with which I do NOT agree), at the end when Roland Martin followed up, the questioner said he was satisfied with her answer.
Here’s one big difference. Sanders talked in broad strokes. Clinton was able to talk about specific programs/policies etc.
She also did, imho, a far better job of connecting with her questioners than he did with his. Yes, he had some loud enthusiastic responses. Most of hers were perhaps less enthusiastic, but still very strongly felt.
I thought her response on the Trump competition question from the doctor who questioned both was far superior. She has more votes than Trump has. Bernie talked about current poll numbers (when he has not YET been subjected to the kinds of attacks she has experienced for a quarter of a century).
I have no idea how many people watched, or what impact it will have upon Tuesday’s results (and remember, many people have already voted).
But this was a MASTERFUL performance by Hillary Clinton.
Especially in the conversation with the two questioners, Jake Tapper and Roland Martin, she used a conversational tone that allowed listeners to connect with her in a way that will inevitably help her.
Yes, I am a Clinton supporter. But as a dispassionate observer, as good as Bernie’s performance was, hers was far superior.
Peace.