Report Card: Clinton Opens the Door to Her Rivals

After just one previous debate, both Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley showed they learned from their weak initial performances on the national stage. Hillary Clinton made no major errors, but she failed to match the dominating performance of the Democratic presidential candidates' initial face-off in Las Vegas. After several weeks on a roll, Clinton not so much moved backwards as she let Sanders, and even O'Malley, back in the hunt.

His best night of the campaign to date. Solid, confident, and often lyrical—although only occasionally hit the bullseye that has thus far eluded him: What is he selling that Clinton and Sanders don’t have to offer? Frequently emotional and engaging on domestic policy, especially when effectively pushing his Maryland governing record and hitting Clinton hard on gun control. Too often grim on national security, but spoke movingly about an Iowa military family. One big caution: Folded when Clinton nailed him with some opposition research on a gubernatorial appointment. Has a long, long way to get in the game, but this performance will rally his supporters and allow him to enter the next phase of the campaign with the potential to be more than a sidebar player.