Democratic Debate could be decisive

The event will mark the first time Senators Obama and Clinton have faced each other since February 26, their last debate in Ohio. That debate was before the Reverend Jeremiah Wright's comments were made public and before Mr. Obama referred to millions of working class and small town voters as "bitter."

While Mrs. Clinton's credibility has been marred since the last debate as well, she goes into it as the underdog and therefore has less to lose. This debate could garner the most viewers of any of the debates — there have been more than 20 during the past year — according to a Northeastern University associate professor and expert on presidential debates, Alan Schroeder.

Unlike most debates in this interminable election, which have been relegated to the backwaters of cable, tomorrow night's discussion will be on network television, ABC, during prime time. The timing and the circumstances make the debate difficult for Mr. Obama. Either of the ABC moderators, Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos, or Mrs. Clinton will have the opportunity to ask Mr. Obama about why the he has remained at his church and what exactly is it about bad economic times that cause some Americans to "cling" to religion.

The typical scenario for a front-running candidate like Mr. Obama is to sit back and run out the clock. Leaders in the polls don't like to debate — an unscripted comment or mistake could alter the dynamic in a successful race. Yet passivity in the face of criticism about not being able to connect with middle America poses a greater risk for Mr. Obama.