I generally agree with Lisa’s analysis. Obama is smart and likable. He seems less calculated than the other two. FWIW, I think that could wear pretty thin in a hurry — back in 1991-93 or so, I used to think President Clinton was smart and likable and now I can’t watch him without thinking him self-absorbed and sanctimonious.

My only point on the “big wind no rain business” was that Obama was done in by his own rhetorical skills. He made a big pitch about how he was about to explain why he’s the better national security candidate. It was an edge-of-your-seat wind-up, especially given how boisterous the debate — which was about to end — had been to that point. But then, when it came time to deliver, he gave us pure, vapid vapor. It was exactly what Rich calls that “something that feels a little light about Obama.” And Hillary, by contrast, had come off very clear and combative. In that hall, and reaching out to all the Super Tuesday voters beyond, it was a red-meat moment, and she gave it to them, skillfully (reminiscent of McCain’s big “tied up at the time” moment several weeks back, when he deftly alluded to his breath-taking heroism in Vietnam in a way that made him seem to tower above his competitors). It was only one question, and I may be reading too much into it, but it was a bad time for Obama to go flat.