9:13 P.M. CST | A pretty heated debate overall. Obama really called the Clintons out, saying their attacks on his record are untrue. Lots of bickering between all the candidates, but especially Obama and Clinton.

The constantly clapping audience really got annoying, as they would applaud after almost every remark. That’s just distracting.

Edwards really seems to be throwing all of his chips in, saying he could beat McCain in every state. He seemed to be getting ahead of himself, as he has yet to win a primary or caucus.

It will be interesting to see how black women in South Carolina vote in the primary in a few days. Clinton and Obama should have a close contest there.

9:06 P.M. CST | Edwards believes MLK would endorse him because of his fight to end poverty and push equality.

Obama believes MLK wouldn’t endorse anyone, but would encourage Americans to hold them all accountable. Nice answer. Differentiates him with an atypical remark.

Clinton said she’ll put MLK’s ideals into practice.

8:56 P.M. CST | Wow, Edwards keeps bringing up the fact that he hasn’t taken money from the big companies while Obama and Clinton have. Won’t let that go. And now Clinton calls him out on it. Just because he accepted matching funds doesn’t mean they have to.

8:54 P.M. CST | Obama says the Democrats should try to reach out to religious people, and not just discount them as Republican conservatives. Good point. They should try to attract people personally, not lump them into categories automatically.

8:47 P.M. CST | Edwards believes John McCain will be the Republican nominee, so the Democrats need someone who can challenge him. But he believes he can challenge McCain? Edwards hasn’t even won a caucus or primary yet.

8:44 P.M. CST | Clinton is asked, Does Bill overshadow your campaign? Dumb question. She’s not going to go against her husband. But she makes a smart move in saying the presidential spouse is an important person, and Bill is a strong asset, but it’s the people on the stage who make the decisions and the change.

8:40 P.M. CST | Edwards brings up his father the millworker many times. It’s his tie to the working-class South, which can attract many of the same type of voters who feel he has their best interest at heart.

8:38 P.M. CST | Obama says racial equality shouldn’t just be an interest of his; it should be the same for a woman or a white man. Clinton says women’s equality should also be an issue. Race and gender, will a woman and a black man running, are key topics. This is a positive thing that comes from having these candidates running.

8:34 P.M. CST | The moderator asks Obama, “Do you think Bill Clinton was our ‘first black president’?” Huh. A funny question to ask a black man running for president. But Obama handles it well, saying that Clinton was a civil rights guy who did a lot for the black community, though Obama would have to “take a second look at his dancing abilities.” Hahaha. That got the crowd laughing.

8:29 P.M. CST | Edwards has repeatedly said poverty is his issue, and it’s an enormous issue in the black community.

The question brought up previously is a big deal, because blacks generally vote Democratic, but with a black man running for president, there is the thought of, Will they vote for him solely on the basis of race? Many blacks are insulted by this. It is especially difficult for black women: should they vote for a black man or a woman?

Obama says, We’re all on the same side about the advancement of humanity; not all of the Republicans are about continually moving forward. He says the race should be about racial divisions.

8:21 P.M. CST | Wow. It might “feel good” for blacks to vote for a black man, but is it the best choice for the country and the future? Interesting question. Obama agrees in principle, but feels he’s best for the job.

8:18 P.M. CST | Chairs have been set up and apparently, the rules are going out the window. Should be interesting to see how informal things get.

8:11 P.M. CST | Zing! Another Bush attack. That’s safe ground for all of them.

8:09 P.M. CST | Edwards says they all agree that the war in Iraq should end, but they differ on how quickly and how aggressively it should be done. Obama says the safety of the troops is key. Safety seems to be the focus; there are also civilians and embassy workers there. And, as Obama also brings up, it’s an expensive war that could be funding other things domestically.

8:04 P.M. CST | The moderator asks, “Are you looking to end this war or win it?” “I’m looking to bring our troops home,” Clinton says. Good answer.

8:01 P.M. CST | Obama is asked if his plan covers illegal immigrants, and he says it doesn’t; we have limited resources. He says the focus should be on children getting the right care.

Edwards and Clinton gang up on Obama now, saying Obama’s health care plan is not universal, while theirs are. Clinton gets really worked up about this, saying she doesn’t want to leave Americans out in the cold, and that Democrats have to at least try for universal health care.

7:52 P.M. CST | How will African-American women be better off under your health care plan? Clinton says her plan will cover everyone, she says. This is an issue that hits home in South Carolina, with a large black population.

7:48 P.M. CST | Hm, Edwards is going against Obama now, questioning his votes on bills in the Illinois legislature. Edwards says, You’re criticizing Clinton and I for the same thing you’ve done.

7:44 P.M. CST | Edwards, Clinton and Obama all want to fix mortgage problems–but, of course, Clinton and Obama argue about the differences in their backgrounds dealing with the details.

Now Edwards jumps in when Obama’s clarifying. Clinton and Edwards are ganging up on him, saying he sided with the credit cards companies on interest rates.

Ouch. Clinton calls out Obama, saying “it’s difficult to debate” him because he doesn’t take responsibility for his votes.

7:34 P.M. CST | Edwards, after completely separating himself from both Clinton and Obama last week, now seems to be siding with Obama this week. He’s trying to keep an ally here and alienate himself from Clinton.

7:30 P.M. CST | Things are getting a little heated. Obama’s raising his voice and he and Clinton are bickering; it seems like a marital fight, rife with interruptions and raised voices. “Oohs” and “boos” from the crowd make this feel like an episode of Jerry Springer.

Is Edwards even here? He finally speaks up and says, All this fighting isn’t getting the American people answers. Nice.

7:24 P.M. CST | Obama calls out Hill and Bill; says they’re making false claims on Obama’s fiscal responsibility. But, Obama says, people aren’t concerned with “all this back and forth.” Exactly!

Clinton says, Hey, we can back it up. Your record matters.

7:21 P.M. CST | Green jobs is a buzzword phrase, brought up by Edwards and Obama; they have to make sure they’re covering their bases on the economy and global warming issues.

Criticizing Bush: something they can all agree on!

7:14 P.M. CST | “It’s the economy, stupid!” Clinton says it’s the number one issue. Obama invokes MLK’s fight for justice, saying jobs were also being fought for. The economy is the hot topic, with all the recent news on the country’s economic stance; people are looking for a candidate that can provide a solution to the problem.

7:03 P.M. CST | The one-at-a-time entrances make it feel slightly like a beauty pageant. Posing for pictures? Come on. Isn’t it about the issues?

What are your thoughts on the debate? Feel free to leave your comments.

Illinois Senator Barack Obama, New York Senator Hillary Clinton and former North Carolina Senator John Edwards will debate tonight at 7.

Tonight’s debate is being held in Myrtle Beach, S.C., where the candidates are vying for the black vote.

Many black female voters are torn between Obama and Clinton, while Edwards has a home state influence. Expect the candidates to bring up racial issues, especially since today is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.