The seventh debate of 2007, among Democrats, and held at Dartmouth College, saw all eight candidates participating; and all responses to Tim Russert’s (Meet the Press-NBC) question on the war, immigration and health care were carefully crafted not to alienate any segment of the party’s base (particularly those left of left) and of course, Independent voters who are being wooed to create that winning edge needed in the next elections.

Democrats have not fallen prey to that which would seem most easy: the call for a total pull out of the troops– suggested by a significant percentage of Americans. For example, Senator Clinton asked what she would do abut ending the war (absolute withdrawal) said “It is my goal to have all combat troops out by the end of my first term, but it’s difficult to answer that question because we don’t know what we will be inheriting at the end of President’s Bush’s second term. To that same question, Senator Obama responded ” I believe we should have all the troops out by 2013,” although he believes that would be irresponsible to project so far into the future on what circumstances might be in Iraq. This debate, slated as the night/moment for each candidate to show his/her grasp as the “leader”in the pack, had former Senator Edwards firing back that although he could not make a commitment to withdraw the troops he would “immediately begin to draw down 40,000 to 50,000 troops….”. From all responses one could glean that irrespective of what shape the campaign takes in the future, “ending the war” has emerged as a wedge issue.

Therefore, walking a tight rope in saying what can be accomplished in Iraq is critical, and clearly Democrats are split on how to achieve a meaningful solution. Not to mention that as “fears of terrorism” rears it head, conservatives understand as savvy political players, that identifying the Democrats as the party “to cut and run” could undermine their potential win to the White House. What is needed for another GOP success? Among other things, playing up the sentiments of opponents (democrats/republicans) of immigration: reform, amnesty, and the push for Universal health care. In short, Democrats can only perceive and hold on to likely gains by fully understanding that being part of a buzz and bubble are completely two different things. Consequently, playing the ‘right cards’– and understanding the politics on the war must be balanced with a full grasp of the “national picture” and not taking for granted anything that spells or looks like over confidence.

VernaSmith