Liveblogging the ABC Philadelphia Democratic Presidential Candidate Debate

Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama meet tonight in the City of Brotherly Love for what may be the last debate of this primary season. (Yes, we've said that before, but this time we mean it!) And as always, we'll be liveblogging the event here. Join us after the jump for the play-by-play.

6:45 I thought I'd let alll you loyal readers know that this liveblog will be conducted by the most recent addition to the TB editorial corps, contributing editor Patrick McLeod. Thanks for covering for me, Patrick!

6:54 Patrick McLeod here to keep you company through the last debate before the Pennsylvania Primary next week. Let's get ready to rumble!

6:54 George again for a brief bit. Patrick's run into a couple of technical problems, and I didn't want you guys to miss the first part of the debate. Particularly when the first question is, "A Clinton/Obama or Obama/Clinton ticket: why not?"

Obama took the first stab at the question, and talked about being an united party after the Democratic convention. Of course, he gets called out on not answering the question. Not that anyone's going to want to. Clinton's take is a little more towards conciliation, but still not an answer: she says that she's sure they will both work as hard as they can for making sure one of the two of them takes the oath of office. The implication, I assume, being that they don't have to be on the same ticket to work together to get a Democrat elected. That's pretty much the closest anyone's going to get to a positive answer to that question, I'm guessing.

7:10 The next question, to Obama, asks for an explanation of what the press is calling BitterGate — I promise that will be the last time you hear that phrase from me in a very long time; really, who comes up with these things? — and Obama apologizes — sort of. He feels his comments were misconstrued, but he defends them instead of backing down. Clinton evokes her grandfather in saying that the comments were misguided — people in small-town America don't "cling" to their religion or their traditions because they're frustrated or bitter — they do it because it's their tradition, and deserves respect as such.

Round two of this: Obama evokes the "different kind of politics," noting that Clinton was nailed as "elitist" and "out of touch" previously, and he recalls thinking, "that's not who she is" — and now she's resorting to them herself. Clinton answer that she called his comments out of touch, and that that was indeed the case with associating people's traditions and faith beliefs with "bitterness" as if they were some sort of casual habit they resort to instead of their way of life, and that uniting America required an acceptance of the many ways of life it represents.

7:24 And we're back to Patrick!

7:25 Moving from one hot potato to another, Obama fields a question on Reverend Wright and his comments. Says that he didn't hear about those specific remarks until everyone else had heard of them on YouTube. Says that we ought to move on from these remarks. Senator Clinton's follow up was about her response that "he wouldn't be my pastor" where she said she was asked a personal question and gave a personal answer. Senator Obama didn't let up on the issue, saying that he and many others found it objectionable.

"Does Reverend Wright love America?" Yikes.

7:30 Senator Clinton thinks that the different variations on Senator Obama's explanations about Reverend Wright deserve "further exploration." Opposition researchers everywhere just did a collective fist pump. "Everything is legitimate when you are running for office." Another fist pump.

7:33 From Reverend Wright hating America to Senator Clinton's trip to Tuzla. This is like a FOX News headline report, folks! Senator Clinton seamlessly transitioned from Tuzla to her extensive international experience. As George said, that was a nice example of Politics 101: Apologize, Bridge, Transition. Senator Obama follows up with the remark that we're both going to make some mistakes, that he's made some mistakes and that we ought not to obsess on candidate errors at the expense of substantive issues.

7:37 On the question of why or why not Senator Obama wears an American flag pin, George Stephanapolous (sp?) pithily notes that "Senator Clinton's and Senator McCain's advisers note that this could be an issue for you". Obama responds that his story is a uniquely American one and that his story would not happen in another country. Follows up that his focus is on substantive issues, not "manufactured issues" like flag pins. I think that's cutting it pretty close.

Next up: To Senator Obama: Explain why you are friendly with the former head of the Weather Underground. EXPLAIN NOW! Says he's also friends with Tom Coburn and said that Tom Coburn has advocated the death penalty for abortion providers yet he hasn't apologized for knowing Tom Coburn. Kind of an odd way to offset that line of attack.

Senator Clinton's response: 9/11! Notes Obama also served on Woods Foundation board with this guy (names escaped me at this time). Obama notes in return that President Clinton pardoned two former Weather Underground members. Push! There are no winners here.

7:52 Question on troops in Iraq...do you actually have plans to bring the troops home or is this just campaign propoganda? Senator Clinton responds with a strong yes. Outlines the problem with an over-committed military and why we must withdraw beginning in 60 days, but in a reasonable fashion. Says that withdrawal will be the only thing that will coerce the Iraqis to stand up. Follow up questions brings up Petraeus testimony and asks Senator Clinton if she knows better than the General. She gives an excellent answer but as George notes, Charlie Gibson just gave the Republican bloggers the Talking Point of the Month.

Charlie Gibson follows up with the same question to Senator Obama. He responds that the Commander in Chief sets the mission, the Generals and troops carry it out.

7:59 Questions move on from Iraq to Iran. Should it be U.S. policy to treat an attack on Israel as an attack on the United States? Senator Obama says that the primary policy ought to be to keep nuclear weapons out of Iranian hands. We must directly engage and mix our incentives, although "no options should be taken off the table." Won't commit to extending our deterrence to Israel. I smell an opening for Senator Clinton...

Senator Clinton says that an attack on Israel would incur massive retaliation from the United States and that we should extend our deterrence beyond just Israel. We should create a regional security agreement about Iran, although she said she would not meet with Ahmadinejad.

8:04 McCain's grumpy old main rhetoric on taxes gets the treatment from both candidates. Senator Clinton says she is committed to cutting taxes on those making less than $250K a year and to letting the Bush tax cuts for the rich expire. Senator Obama says he is committed to cutting taxes on the middle class, particularly by offsetting the payroll tax and taxes on the elderly. Obama says changing the tone in Washington is the key.

Charlie Gibson tosses Obama an insider heater about his proposal to raise the capital gains tax. Obama leaves most of this one on the floor but he does a great job of changing the tone to John McCain and his policies. Gibson's a bulldog, though. He's keeping Obama on this point. Senator Clinton does a great job moving the conversation to how great the economy was in the 90s, how she wants to bring that same spirit to initiatives like a strategic energy fund with union jobs. Compliments Governor Rendell on his job dealing with the foreclosure crisis.

Charlie's not letting go on the capital gains taxes. Is he getting paid under the table by CNBC? Is Maria Bartiromo just off camera with cue cards for him? Several minutes of back-and-forth about commissions, caps and what has been done to Social Security over the last thirty years ensue.

8:30 Charlie moves the discussion from taxes to guns. Sets up the usual Republican straw man that licensing for guns and registration for guns are equal to erasing the Second Amendment. Senator Clinton moves right to policy proscriptions. Respects the Second Amendment, respects lawful gun owners. Asks Senator Obama about the D.C. gun ban. Obama sides with the District, equating local control with property rights. Says he has never favored a ban on handguns. "We must get beyond the politics of this issue and focus on what is working." Poses same question to Senator Clinton. She says she it ought to be up to local control. George Stephanopolous is pressing her on it. Neither candidate goes beyond their support for local control.

8:38 The questioning moves along to affirmative action. Senator Clinton notes income gap, achievement gap but no gap in potential. Charlie Gibson moves to gas prices. Clinton promises investigation of gas prices, release oil from Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help drive down prices and wants to couple gas tax holiday with a windfall profits tax on oil company revenues. Focuses on comprehensive energy plan. Follows up with Senator Obama with quote from President Carter. Obama focuses on investing in renewable energy, raising fuel efficiency in cars. Next question: How would you use George W. Bush in your administration? Senator Clinton focuses on the Clinton-Bush tsunami follow up. Senator Obama says he'd be more likely to ask the current President's father for advice than the current President.

Both of them are far more tactful than I'd be, folks.

8:51 Last question from Charlie Gibson: When you're in Denver and you're talking to superdelegates, how are you going to make your case to them? Senator Clinton goes first: We need a fighter in the White House. I've got a plan to curtail the role of special interests. We're going to tackle the problems that have been waiting for a champion to come back to the White House. I'm ready to be the Commander-in-Chief. I will turn the economy around. We will get back to shared prosperity.

Senator Obama says we're at a defining moment in our history. People have lost trust in their government. I bet that the American people are tired of politics as usual and that they are ready for change. The American people are responding that they are ready. We need to deliver for health care for every American and job growth. We need to build a new coalition and new politics.

8:56 Jake Tapper? Are you kidding me?

Looks like that's all folks. After that set-to I feel like I'm ready for a beer, a shot and a cigarette! Thanks for reading along.