The number of qualifiers needed in order to turn tonight’s Democratic debate into a “first” makes me laugh:

While there have been at least seven debates already on the Democratic side of the race – and countless other joint appearances – tonight’s two-hour forum is the first official debate of the post-Labor Day march to the election.

Got that? A first! Still, Jeff Zeleny makes a good case for tuning in to watch the Democrats go at it tonight in New Hampshire:

Most campaigns are approaching [tonight’s debate] as though it was the political equivalent to a television fall season premiere, a fresh opportunity to capture a curious audience.

In a string of debates throughout the spring and summer, the Democratic candidates have frequently tangled over the Iraq war, the influence of special interests and the nuances of their health care plans. But tonight’s setting offers candidates a new opportunity to challenge their leading rival, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Indeed, nine months into the race, Senator Clinton enters the debate wearing a larger bull’s eye than normal. Not only because her performances at previous debates have consistently been strong, but a new poll today by WMUR/CNN found she has a 23-point lead over Senator Barack Obama and a 31-point lead over John Edwards in this state.

I’ll be watching.