FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Hillary Clinton has debated Barack Obama 18 times so far but arguably none is as important as tonight.
Obama's on a roll, beating Clinton the last 11 contests in a row. She has to win the upcoming races in Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania – and she has to win them big – if she wants to stay in this thing. Tonight's debate could help her do that.
As one expert tells the Wall Street Journal, "Clinton doesn't have any extra opportunities. If Obama skates by and everyone says they both did well, it's over. That means he's won."
Some early indication of what we may hear from Clinton tonight comes from her spokesman who predicts a "civil" debate, while also calling Obama "a candidate who 36 short months ago was in the state legislature." Clinton also points to Obama as a risky choice, untested by international crises and the GOP attack machine. On the other hand, Obama could say to Clinton, "Yeah, but I'm ahead."
Analysts say the challenge will be to create a sound bite that will spread like wildfire across the Internet and negatively define the other candidate's campaign... kind of like 1984 when Walter Mondale took out his opponent Gary Hart by asking "Where's the beef?" Or when Lloyd Bensten slammed Dan Quayle's image with this zinger: " I knew Jack Kennedy, Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine, and Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."
Meanwhile, tonight's debate is one hot ticket: 43,000 Texans entered a lottery to try and get one of the 100 available tickets.
Here’s my question to you: What does Hillary Clinton have to do at tonight's debate to try to turn the tide?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Barbara from Warner Robins, Georgia writes:
Hillary Clinton could prove that the experience she claims for herself was not gained by osmosis from Bill Clinton. Then when she starts belittling Obama with coy remarks about his lack of experience, she might appear more credible. Borrowing the words from an Ernest Tubb recording, I think Obama is going to “Waltz Across Texas” between now and March the fifth.
Steve writes:
Hillary has to show she's better prepared than Obama, to show that Obama has great lofty goals, but Hillary has solutions. While experience may not have been a major factor in previous administrations (Bush is living proof), the next president steps into a multi-nation, global war on terror, an economic recession, total lack of trust in government...
Shannon from Bigfoot, Texas writes:
She had better "get real" with all the Texans who have no interest in protecting illegal aliens and their illegal activities and tell us what she is going to do to stop the influx, immediately! Both candidates have totally ignored these issues so far. The Texas/Mexico border and illegal immigration situations have nearly reached the point of all-out war in this state.
Lorry from New York City writes:
Jack, what does Hillary Clinton have to do to turn the tide? Well, get misty eyed, of course!
Jen writes:
First of all, Hillary has always used the word "I" very frequently in her speeches. To the American public, she appears to be self-centered, not referring to others who helped her achieve the goals which she did attain. On the other hand, Barack is a common user of the word "we", and to the American people, that shows inclusion. People are hungry to be included in the political process.
Darren from Trenton, Michigan writes:
Outside of Obama getting caught on Dateline's "To Catch a Predator", Clinton's campaign is already doomed.
Casey from Tennessee writes:
Turn the tide? Didn't that whole lunar eclipse thing do that last night, Jack?