Watching her eyes, one could almost see the wheels turning in her head as she sorted through her list of well-rehearsed answers for the one that might help place herself in the best competitive light.

Even her occasional attempts to pepper her responses with 'personal' information about her mother and grandmother growing up without wealth or privilege rang hollow because they were so obviously prepared in advance for their effect on the crowd.

Bernie's eyes, on the other hand, seemed to light up as he listened to Anderson Cooper's questions in anticipation of responding-- not at the opportunity to PERFORM, but at the opportunity to INFORM.

He reminded me of an already seasoned president standing before the country at a State of the Union Address, inviting the American people into his confidence and sharing important information that he felt we all deserved to know about.

There was nothing self-absorbed or pageant contestant-like about Bernie's demeanor. You always got the sense that the challenges facing this country were way more important to him than any personal concerns about performance, competition. or winning. I watched him closely last night and it was as if this man was totally ego-free in the most positive and evolved way.

Bernie's opening phrases, like "Let me say this," or "It's important to know that…" felt as if he were inviting each of us in to learn about what was really going on in our government and how we might all begin to work together to fix it… reminiscent of the best type of presidential State of the Union Address when a president is being honest, transparent, and open as he unifies the people as a nation without worrying about playing politics for personal gain.