7:36 p.m.

Debate transcript, courtesy of CNN.

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7:31 p.m.

Casino cashier question answered

I know you are waiting by your computers and blackberries, dear Flashees. Truth is many cashiers at newer properties, because of change in job classification, are not members of the union. But those at older properties, such as Judy Bagley, generally are.

So Obama’s pander was legitimate. She is a member.

I knew I wasn’t crazy about cashiers, but I was wrong about Bagley. Mea culpa.

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7:11 p.m.

Last question goes to Clinton: Diamonds or pearls?

That’s what I’d ask if I had the chance to ask a question at a presidential debate.

It’s over.

Will try to post a transcript later….

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7:01 p.m.

Obama’s campaign insists cashier is in Culinary

Says Obama has met Judy Bagley and she is member of 30 years standing.

Will find out dear Flashees, and report back when I can find a Culinary boss…..

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6:56 p.m.

Obama to Clinton: “That’s the kind of thing I’d expect from Mitt Romney or Rudy Giuliani”

Referring to her position on increasing Social Security cap…..says only 6 percent affected…..says she is “playing with numbers to try to make a point.”

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6:54 p.m.

Casino cashiers are Culinary members?

Barack Obama must think so because he used a question from cashier Judy Bagley to congratulate her on being a member of the union, which he obviously saw as a way to genuflect to the much-coveted Culinary Union.

Too bad they generally aren’t in the union.

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6:40 p.m.

The pithy Kucinich

Blitzer: You are only one on stage who voted against the Patriot Act…

Kucinich: “That’s because I read it.”

Mentions all the flip-flops of those on stage and uses Yucca as an example of that…..… “Just imagine what it would be like to have a president of the United States who was right the first time.”

What to do?

“It’s called impeachment and you don’t wait….You do it now…Impeach him now.”

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6:15 p.m.

Richardson lies about Yucca opposition — again!

Need I tell everyone, again, this is a flat-out lie. I am still waiting for his campaign to produce one statement from
Richardson when he was DOE secretary that shows he was against the dump as he moved it along, testified before
Congress that it was progressing and did not answer Nevada governors’ requests to disqualify it when he could.

Truth is: All his life he supported Yucca Mountain…. until he ran for president.

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6:09 p.m

John Roberts for president!

He would carry Nevada.

CNN reporter uses Nevada in every question, shows he knows about Nellis and Yucca.

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6:06 p.m.

Question you didn’t expect to hear: Was Ross Perot right?

Wolf Blitzer was talking about NAFTA and Bill Clinton’s support and Al Gore’s debate with Perot:

HRC: All I can remember from that is a bunch of charts….NAFTA was a mistake to the extent that it did not deliver as it should….trade time-out…..

Obama continues to support Peruvian agreement….

And the Clinton campaign fact hubs are coming:

Sen. Edwards Supported Drivers Licenses For Illegal Immigrants In 2004

http://facts.hillaryhub.com/archive/?id=4222

Sen. Edwards Opposed Universal Health Care In 2004

http://facts.hillaryhub.com/archive/?id=4219

Sen. Obama’s Health Care Plan Would Leave At Least 15 Million Uninsured

http://facts.hillaryhub.com/archive/?id=4218

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5:55 p.m.

Obama campaign sending out missives about Clinton

The emails to the media — two so far — point out Clinton’s “mandate” on health care and her “evolution” on drivers’
licenses. So the candidate has yet to make a true, frontal assault but his campaign folks are doing it in real time in the background to try to shape the coverage.

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5:35 p.m.

Drivers license question: Just Say No?

Obama: problem isn’t drivers licenses, not coming here to drive,….distracted by what’s become a wedge issue….

Blitzer: This is the kind of question that is sort of available for a yes or no question…asks all if support drivers licenses for illegals

Edwards: No…..but don’t support notion can’t get comprehensive immigration reform

Dodd: Drivers licenses are wrong things……

Obama: Yes…..fight for comprehsnive immigration reform

HRC: No. (And that’s all she said. See how easy that was?!)

Kucinich: should cancel NAFTA……I take exception for way you phrased that question

Richardson: Yes…and I did it…..law enforcement people said matter of public safety

Biden: No

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5:28 p.m.

Humorous comments when Blitzer asks if will support nominee

Edwards: Is that a planted question? But says yes except for:

Kucinich: Only if they oppose war as an instrument of policy

Biden: Hell, no, I wouldn’t support any of these guys. (Gotta love Biden.)
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5:22 p.m.

Yucca gets mentioned!

John Roberts points to Edwards’ flip-flop on the dump and Iraq and asks how he can criticize Clinton….

The candidates haven’t played to Nevada yet, but a CNN questioner did!

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5:21 p.m.

Debate starts with spirited exchanges focused on Clinton

First question about politics of parsing to Hillary Clinton:

HRC: This pants suit. It’s asbestos tonight.

Perfectly comfortable with positions

Obama: Sen. Clinton is a capable politician…American people looking for
straight answers…not what we’ve seen from Sen. Clinton….immediately hits her on drivers licenses for illegal
immigrants (in Vegas parlance, the under would have been a good bet on how long it took this issue to come up.)…..

Clinton: Says Obama doesn’t cover 15 million people in his plan — about population of four early states….(That
answers the question of whether she will hit back.)

Obama: Do provide universal health care…she thinks the problem is mandating…..

HRC: Wolf, I can’t let that go…..big differece….(Obama is trying interrupt)…..

Obama: She’s not garnishing wages …..she is not enforcing this mandate…..problem not being forced to get health
care, problem they can’t afford it…

Edwards’ turn: mentions trust….Sen. Cinton says will turn up heat…but she voted with Bush and Cheney (on
Iran)….on issue of Social Security….says will raise the cap….she says she will bring change to Washignton while she
continues to defend system that does not work…rigged and corrupt…..

HRC: But when somsone starts throwing mud hope it’s accurate not right out of the Republcian playbook….tries to
turn it back to “positive agenda.” (That is, they are negative and I am not.)

Biden: Am people don’t give a darn about anything being talked about up here tonight….not crticizing any of the
three people who always get to talk (HRC laughs uproariously)

— Las Vegas Sun political columnist Jon Ralston compiled this report. For Jon Ralston’s in-depth look at Nevada politics and news, read the Las Vegas Sun every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.