Hillary. Being the quintessential transactional politician she will connect herself with as many interest groups as possible. We will hear what she has done or feels for farmers, African-Americans, moms, working women, teachers, nurses, laid off workers, etc. She has a checklist and is methodical about using it. At least once she will use "upstate New York" to represent her connection to middle America. Bill. She will say Bill.

Obama. The anti-Hillary in political approach, his campaign is avowedly "insurgent" and transformational. He is running against transactional politics, "politics as usual." "Turn the page" to "a different kind of politics." He will say "Americans" or "the American people" a lot (or some other equivalent phrases) to signify he is a unifier.

Edwards, running as the populist, the advocate for the "little guy." Will remind us of his Carolina mill town roots. Populists need big, bad, powerful enemies and he will evoke that by calling on Bush to fire Rove according to an e-mail sent from the campaign today. Courage, too. He will, in at least one of his passive/aggressive moves state that congress (read Obama, Hillary, et al.) needs to have the courage to cut off funds for Bush's war. He may repeat "hope is not enough" in another of his passive/aggressive digs at Obama. And he had the first and most detailed health care plan.

Richardson. Governor Richardson. Ambassador Richardson. Special Envoy Richardson. Bill "Resume" Richardson. Look for every answer to be couched in terms of an experience he had dealing with a similar or analogous problem. There is no issue he cannot find some experience to call on from his times experience as governor, congressman or diplomat. Sudan and North Korea will be in the debate if only because Bill was there demonstrated his experience (and somewhat successfully) on recent diplomatic missions.

Biden. Will make a point of letting us know he is abiding by the time limits (no, we will never forgive you for the Alito hearing, Joe). And will let us know that he has the only plan that partitions Iraq. Did you know he is the only one with a political plan for Iraq?

Dodd. He has two young daughters. They need someone as president who will create a good future. That's why he is running. Yes, he said that. Never explained why he would be a better president than anyone else. See also Biden's experience as a Senator.

Kucinich. "I told you so." Impeach Cheney. "I am the only one who . . . ." (fill in the blank).

Mike Gravel. Gravel older than dirt? Younger than McCain? "Oil companies are evil." Will do better than James Stockdale who gave voice to the questions we all have about Gravel when Stockdale opened his one and only debate with, "Who am I? Why am I here?"