The last time that Hillary Clinton took to the stage at the Cleveland State University Convocation (now Wolstein) Center, it was Monday, November 4, 1996. On the eve of that year's Presidential Election, President Bill Clinton asked Cleveland to think about the future; the stump speech rhetoric from the stage was rife with visions of "going to the 21st century." There would be no taking the Clintons "on faith" as was done in 1992; Cleveland stood as critical to delivering "America back to the people." Arm-in-arm with her husband and the Gore family and with the reunited James Gang jamming out on stage beforehand, Hillary Clinton asked the audience to help the foursome return to the White House.

Who could have predicted that Clinton would return to the same CSU stage over 11 years later -- in an iconic Democratic Primary race that can only be described as history in the making -- entrenched in the fight of her political life? As an attendee of that aforementioned rally in '96, I was sure we'd see her again, perhaps even as heir apparent to the Oval Office. And who could have imagined that CSU would again be the site deciding the course of political history? Or hosting Clinton as the first legitimate female presidential candidate and having her facing off against the charismatic Barack Obama, the first legitimate African American presidential candidate? It's beyond any political junkie's comprehension... and, without question, the stuff of dreams and legend. The kind of moment in time you'll share with your children and their children as testimony to history.

All happening here in Cleveland. And the level of excitement in town -- from supporters on up -- was palpable.

Last night's final Democratic Primary debate began with momentum decidedly in Obama's favor and with Clinton against the ropes -- implementing a puzzling (and intermittently splenetic) approach to both pleading her case and battling her opponent. With the wintery North Coast as their backdrop, and with the country united in participating in something truly historic, both candidates took to the Wolstein Center (pictured here Monday night, in the calm before the storm) to make their case for next week's primaries in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont.

With a war of words between the Democratic candidates escalating, fervent supporters and diligent news organizations from all across the country swarmed on the arena -- all hoping for an inspired 20th debate of a yearlong campaign. Knowing it could be their last face-off, the rallying cries from both camps cut through the windswept quadrant of CSU leading to Wolstein. A logjam of news trucks, law enforcement and bomb squad trucks littered the path to the press entrance at Gate B. "Buckeye Brawl," indeed.

The arena itself was shrunk from it's usual capacity to an intimate theater scene accomodating just over 1,600 (?!?) patrons; the majority of the available tickets were distributed evenly to each campaign. The security was just as "intimate"; after an interaction with one explosive-sniffing dog and a handful of security checkpoints, it was time to debate the candidates' angles with reporters in two full press rooms and a Spin Room (where Rev. Jesse Jackson and others interviewed). UPI, AP, Reuters, all the major networks and cable outlets... you name it, they were here... all trying to make sense of the "Meet me in Ohio!" buzz anchoring Clinton's do or die now tact, showcasing Obama's "experience gap" and floating of a plan to "fix NAFTA."

On the flip side, there was the matter of Obama's Kenyan dress photo leak/controversy uncovered by the Drudge Report (apparently leaked from the Clinton campaign, denied by Clinton and acccepted by Obama as "I'll take Senator Clinton at her word") and the coveted superdelegate endorsement from Chris Dodd (a longtime Clinton friend) which emerged on the way downtown. Not even to mention the Entertainment Tonight Obama interview -- which went over with much more fanfare than Ellen Degeneres cheering on Clinton did. Little of the pop culture/pundit angle made the line of questioning.

'Early on, Clinton suggested she wanted a debate (and a campaign) that is "based in fact" and accurate information, not false, misleading and discredited information. Especially, she said, as it relates to health care (obviously a hot button topic here in Cleveland). Spent a great deal of time on health care and the differences that come between each of their plans. Clinton questioned Obama's mandate to parents and that without a solid health care plan -- "a core democratic party value." Within the first 16+ minutes, things got very heated and caused a lot of buzz amongst the media luminaries in the room.

Moving the discussion to trade and manufacturing, Clinton again suggested a "trade timeout" to repair NAFTA (a policy that she also now claims to oppose) but offered no explanation as to what the lack of foreign goods might have on the economy in the short term. Labor standards were a part of both candidates' comments on the subject. NBC commentator and moderator Tim Russert pushed her with the suggestion that NAFTA could be repealed and Clinton began to tank. Clinton became strident in her tone and clearly was seething with anger at Russert and Obama for being called on her record on NAFTA.

There were a fair amount of gasps and shudders by the press corps (pictured) in response to Clinton's first half-hour; Obama's strength in answers and poise were far more confident. Russert offered a full-court press on both candidates (with Clinton pshing back a great deal on him) and both he and fellow NBC moderator Brian Williams seemingly did a far better job than the CNN moderators in earlier debates. Clinton suggested that her plan/promise for 200,000 jobs in New York during her senatorial campaign failed because of the Bush Administration being brought to power and suggested that as president, she would have the tools at her disposal that include "tax incentives, training and a commitment to follow through" and create 5 million new jobs.

Clinton was far more adversarial on everything from foreign policy to job creation, showing just how dire her situation is. She even attempted to cut off Williams as he was trying to go to a commercial break. The second act of the debate seemed far less divisive and heated on the candidate's side; Russert spent a great deal of his time asking for clarification on everything from Clinton's "transparency" and lack of public record for tax returns and First Lady duties, to Obama's public campaign financing and Louis Farrakhan's "endorsement" of him... and nevermind Obama's barb at Clinton about it: "If Senator Clinton thinks that reject is stronger than denounce, then I’m happy to concede the point, and I both reject and denounce" his support.

One could argue it all depends on what your definition of is is.

One thing is certain -- if you watched the coverage, you know that Cleveland won and lost. We won in the sense that the region and a great university was prominently featured in the coverage. We won in the sense that history in the making came back to the area. But we lost because a number of key regional issues for voters (most notably foreclosure) were not given the amount of time and attention they so desperately deserved.

And when all was said and done, Clinton didn't make enough headway in the debate to take Obama off of his game on the night. It was a "low scoring debate," to be sure -- one that was seemingly won by Obama and will likely be analyzed by the pundits for days to come. So, will Clinton be the first woman president and the "sea change" she hopes to be? Did she accomplish everything she did 11 years ago and more? And what of Obama, the agent of change we've endorsed in this week's issue?

We'll all know, in all likelihood, after the primaries next week.

Debate coverage and photos from CSU by Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com

Check our blog at BrewedFreshDaily.com for more debate & politics coverage (:divend:)