Debate winners: Everyone. Debate losers: Trump.
As I set out to write a debate winners and losers list, I began to find the process of selections increasingly difficult. Every candidate came to play last night, and everyone walked away with some kind of positive momentum. But it isn’t that cut and dry.
I felt like Warren crushed it, but I also think her lack of response to Buttigieg’s question of hypocrisy on big money and private fundraisers to be inexcusable. Buttigieg got fired upon, hard from all sides, but his counter-punches and responses were just as strong. Joe Biden’s expectation meeting night certainly appeased his supporters that I spoke to, but did it really match a front runner-esque performance?
So, I am not going to write debate winners and losers because in reality I think the only loser last night was Donald Trump. The Democrats showed an incredibly resilient bench of candidates to take on the biggest political challenge their party will face in generations, so here are my takeaways on why certain candidates showed they are the ones to answer that call.
Elizabeth Warren, the Messenger. You would be hard pressed to find a candidate in modern memory that is more on brand, on message, and to the point as Elizabeth Warren. Continuously hammering home her point about raising the middle class and creating an America that works for everyone, not just the wealthy. She’s Bernie, but an avowed capitalist, something that could help her win moderates in a general.
Bernie Sanders’ Broken Record? Some argued this morning that Bernie Sanders’ message is tirelessly repeated to the point where it loses its “it” factor. However, is that not what exactly is so strong about his message? Everyone knows Bernie is fighting for, and asking everyone to join, a political revolution. He wants Medicare for all. He wants free college. He wants an America where the bottom half of the country is worth just as much as the 1%. He’s undeniably himself, just as he always is. That showed last night once again, and his supporters should be pleased.
Yang and his Gang! The Yang Gang gained a notable new member this week in arguably the world’s most talented entertainer as comedian, rapper, and actor Donald Glover endorsed his campaign. After his performance last night, he is sure to gain a lot more. So far, Andrew Yang has been drowned out on the larger stage, finding speaking time hard to come by. With less candidates, Mr. Yang was eloquently able to offer his unique and new solutions for the 21st century to the large television audience. Everyone is starting to associate Andrew Yang with $1,000 a month and UBI, a huge step for his grassroots campaign that started, as he says, with his email contact list. Not to mention he was able to plug his book a little.
Mayor Pete, the Counterpuncher. Pete Buttigieg finally got the front runner treatment that has been a long time coming: he was attacked from all sides last night. Facing blows from Senators Klobuchar and Warren about his recent fundraiser in a “Wine Cave” in Napa Valley. Under fire, the Mayor employed a new tactic we had yet to see from him: the ability to react like Mike Tyson. Anyone thinking that the fire Mayor Buttigieg came under last night is anything close to what Donald Trump will levy at the eventual Democratic nominee, is disillusioned. Mayor Pete showed that he can fight back, and that any attacks from Donald Trump can be handled deftly.
Amy Klobuchar, the Realist. Klobuchar does not tell you what you want to hear, she tells you want you need to hear. She does not think it is practical to pay for massive social welfare programs like Medicare for All, but she does think there is no reason that pharmaceutical drugs and prescriptions cost as much as they do. She also was not afraid to throw a punch, landing several haymakers on Mayor Pete as she attempted to create distinction amongst someone many consider close to her on policy. She is a no-nonsense midwestern Senator who believes that path back to the White House runs through the heartland.
Tom Steyer, the Billionaire. According to the hedge fund manager, only someone who knows the economy, who can go head to head with Trump on the economy, and expose him as a fraud, can beat him. Mr. Steyer has gotten criticism for buying his way onto the stage. He spent last night combating that notion by pointing out how he has been on the right side of the issues Democrats care deeply about such as climate change and impeachment. Despite Steyer only speaking 1,937 words during the debate(compared to the leader Amy Klobuchar at 3,557 words), he managed to stick out in a way he wasn’t able to before. He made his case much better on a smaller stage and had his first strong debate of the cycle.
Joe Biden, the Electable. Joe Biden knows he can beat Donald Trump in a general election. Mentioning how he thinks he can help Democrats win just not in the Presidential election, but up and down the ballot in newly purple states like Georgia and Arizona, he has touted his reputation as a bridge builder. His strongest moment was when he pointed out how no one should be angrier at Republicans now for the way they have treated his family, but that he still feels politics will be put aside in his White House to reach across the aisle and get things done. Biden was quieter than past debates, but ultimately that was a strategy that paid off.
