Story highlights David Axelrod: Hillary Clinton's commanding performance reduces opportunity for Joe Biden to make a difference in Democratic race

Axelrod says Sanders had rocky start on guns but then roused his base effectively

David Axelrod is CNN's senior political commentator and host of the podcast "The Axe Files." He was senior adviser to President Barack Obama and chief strategist for the 2008 and 2012 Obama campaigns. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his.

(CNN) She did what she needed to do.

David Axelrod

Poised, passionate and in command, Hillary Clinton emerged from Tuesday's debate as a stronger front-runner for the Democratic nomination than she was going in.

Bernie Sanders also had something to celebrate.

After a rocky start, punctuated by an awkward exchange over his mixed record on gun safety issues, the senator from Vermont came on strong and rallied his base with rousing jeremiads about inequality and the corrupting power of money in politics. He also brought the house down with a showstopping declaration -- aimed at the media as much as Clinton -- that the "American people are sick and tired of talking about your damned emails."

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