Klobuchar Steals The Limelight In New Hampshire: Debates Matter

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., may have won the New Hampshire primary, but it is Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who made news in the Granite State.

The Hill attributed Klobuchar's surprise surge to her sterling debate performance Friday night. "Klobuchar mixed sharp arguments about how she’s shaped policy in the Senate with folksy Midwest humor," it said in a sharp analysis of the New Hampshire primary.

The speech was noticed immediately. On Monday, CNN's Chris Cillizza wrote highlighting a key chunk of Sen. Klobuchar's quote: "That's really, really powerful. And a remarkable antidote to Trumpism ..."

Here is the key part of Klobuchar's closing statement that Cillizza quoted:

"And I will tell you this, there is a complete lack of empathy in this guy in the White House right now.
"And I will bring that to you. If you have trouble stretching your paycheck to pay for that rent, I know you, and I will fight for you. If you have trouble deciding if you're going pay for your child care or your long-term care, I know you, and I will fight for you. If you have trouble figuring out if you're going fill your refrigerator or fill your prescription drug, I know you, and I will fight for you."
"I do not have to biggest name up on this stage, I don't have the biggest bank account. I'm not a political newcomer with no record, but I have a record of fighting for people. I'm asking you to join us at amyklobuchar.com. I'm asking you to believe that someone who totally believes in America can win this, because if you are tired of the extremes in our politics and the noise and the nonsense, you have a home with me."

The debate performance came with instant rewards: about $3 million in new funds and an influx of volunteers in New Hampshire.

Despite the strong showing in Iowa, where she finished fifth, and New Hampshire, and moderate Democrats' desperate need to stop Sanders, Klobuchar still has a tough road ahead. The Hill's analysis pointed to the biggest weakness among the centrist candidates - that they are cannibalizing each other.

Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who was edged by Sanders; Klobuchar; and former Vice President Joe Biden, who took the fifth spot, together accounted for more than 50 percent of the vote Tuesday. Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., the left-wing in the party, together cornered only 36 percent. Warren finished fourth.

Buttigieg is on a roll and Biden is expected to fight on through Super Tuesday. And then there is former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg waiting to join the fray. This means the centrist vote will continue to get divided, letting Sanders gain strength and influence all the while.

Klobuchar's record is also going to get more scrutiny, especially her time as county attorney of Hennepin County. She has struggled to defend herself when questioned about her push for life sentence in the case of Myon Burrell, a teenager who was sentenced for the killing of 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards. The defense has recently uncovered evidence suggesting the teenager may be innocent.

ABC News's Sunny Hostin, a co-host of Friday's debate and herself a former prosecutor, told Klobushar: "I have reviewed the facts of that case, and it is one of the most flawed investigations and prosecutions that I think I have ever seen."

Klobuchar's reply was tame: "I have been very clear. All of the evidence needs to be immediately reviewed in that case." She needs to come up with a better response for questions on the case in the coming weeks.

Klobuchar said Saturday: "Let's surprise everyone and win the right way, with the right ideas, the boldest ideas, the best ideas, the way to put them into action instead of the biggest bank account or the loudest voice in the room."

She surprised in New Hampshire. The question is can she continue to do it.