ISSUE: Democratic debate

OUR VIEW: Attacks will boost Clinton position

It's clear that Democratic presidential politics have changed since the first-in-the nation presidential debate in Orangeburg in April. Hillary Rodham Clinton has solidified her position as frontrunner based on polling and her opponents' behavior.

In Orangeburg at the debate, Clinton already was considered a leader based on name recognition, early endorsements and campaign finances. But the debate was cordial. No one attacked. The focus was on Republicans and their failures.

Not so six months later. In Philadelphia this week, the Democratic contenders -- sans Joe Biden -- took shot after shot at Clinton, who leads nationally and in early primary states including South Carolina. (The latest WinthropETV Poll shows Clinton's lead in South Carolina over Barack Obama has grown.)

On immigration, the issue was drivers' licenses for illegals under consideration in New York. Does Clinton favor or oppose? She took the middle of the road, saying the governor is simply trying to handle a bad situation. The failure, Clinton said, is lack of immigration reform via Washington. Her opponents pounced, contending she was taking two positions.

On Iran, there was the accusation that she was supporting President Bush and the administration's talk of military action. She responded that she is not willing to take any option off the table.

Obama, who the prebate hype indicated would be aggressive, did challenge her. Yet it was John Edwards who was most vocal.

Clinton all the while stuck to her guns, joining Biden in taking on the GOP. (Biden had the line of the night with this comment that GOP contender Rudy Giuliani knows only one sentence: a noun, a verb "and 9-11.")

In the end, the debate in Philadelphia likely did more to solidify Clinton as frontrunner and win her votes. It did not help her opponents, who had the look of a gang outnumbering the opposition in a fight. It's clear Clinton is running already against the GOP. She is taking positions close to the center, a sometimes dangerous strategy when considering that primary voters tend to be more liberal than the overall population.

But this year is different. Democrats want to win and it appears for now they see Clinton as the best bet to gain the White House. Is Hillary Clinton less liberal than she was in April? No, but she must have votes from so-called Reagan Democrats and moderates to win in November 2008.

Her opponents likely will stake out positions contrary to hers to attempt to swing primary voters. No votes have yet been cast. It could work -- but probably won't.

When the smoke clears in early 2008, the likelihood of a Clinton nomination is very real unless her opponents can do better than they did in Philadelphia.

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