According to The Guardian:
Hillary Clinton emerged as the clear winner from the first debate between the Democratic candidates in the 2008 presidential race – ahead of her main rival Barack Obama – according to those present in the audience1.
The article goes on to expound on the great performance by Mrs. Clinton vis-à-vis Mr. Obama. In effect, the article focuses on these two candidates, as they are the most important — so the media inform us — whilst humbly passing over the other candidates. As the article wraps up, it states:
The main aim at this stage, with the election of the Democrat candidate 263 days away, was for the frontrunners to avoid making mistakes – which they did – and for the second and third tier candidates Mr Kuchinich, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson, Chris Dodd and Mike Gravel to make an impression – which they failed to do2.
I don’t know about the other ‘second and third tier’ candidates, but from what I was able to see, I was simply amazed by former senator Mike Gravel!
1 Hillary Clinton shines in Democratic candidates’ debate.
2 ibid.