The Hiller Instinct: Senate Debate Wrap-Up

Finally, a big campaign event that lived up to its build up. It was a spirited debate that could -- repeat could -- shake up this Senate race.

Republican Scott Brown went for it all tonight, and I think he got a good part of it.

Martha Coakley was Martha Coakley -- a lawyer who looked and sounded like a teacher. As always she was calm, measured and unemotional, but unlike always, she sometimes seemed tentative, even taken aback.

It was Scott Brown who made her that way. Brown knew what he wanted to say and said it. He was confident and personable. He was aggressive, but not so aggressive that he crossed any gender line.

Joe Kennedy had a strong debate performance, too. He got out his message that he's the candidate of smaller government and less spending. He never looked uncomfortable, and he even had a sense of humor.

I'm sure this won't be unanimous, but Scott Brown was my clear choice as the winner of this debate. He blended a soft delivery with hard attacks. Most important, watching him, you could imagine him in the U.S. Senate, not the State Senate.

Frankly, I was surprised by tonight's debate. Brown was stronger and Coakley weaker than I anticipated.

If many voters who watched agree with me, then the next week of this race will have more than enough excitement to make up for what had been a rather dull campaign until tonight.

I'm Andy Hiller, that's my instinct.

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