So why did candidates in tonight's debate not "lay a glove on Biden" as Brian Williams noted, as

[emmaverybo]

had been expected? Not even in a veiled way.

[True Dough]

1. He wasn't on the stage

and there will be plenty of time for that down the road.

[EveHammond13]

2. I think you "lay a glove on Biden" by a strong performance that pushes up your numbers

you don't have to directly invoke him to do that

[marylandblue]

17. This. All they needed to do was show that they are credible candidates

Last edited Thu Jun 27, 2019, 12:20 PM - Edit history (2)

And they all did that. They raised the bar for Biden to move from "electable" to "best."

[EveHammond13]

20. agree

[customerserviceguy]

3. Good question

Maybe they think they can advance to a debate with him, and do it then. They didn't try to take down Warren, either.

But, if the same thing happens tomorrow, then we probably won't see that kind of behavior until late in the debates.

[BeyondGeography]

4. Because Biden wasn't there?

Also, believe it or not, Biden isn’t a very imposing front runner. Certainly not to the point where you would want to sacrifice your very limited airtime to take on a guy who wasn’t on stage with you.

[Zambero]

5. Debate time is too short if one intends to outline their own vision

Proclaiming not being Joe Biden isn't going to persuade very many primary voters. Trump is the common target, and even he was not mentioned as much as would be expected.

[emmaverybo]

6. Ah. Nt

[blogslut]

7. The media wants mudslinging

Normally I'm cool with Brian but tonight, he and that whole panel + Tweety, are pissing me off. I think they're completely out of touch.

[emmaverybo]

8. Agree. NT

[BeyondGeography]

9. They are indeed completely out of touch

[ecstatic]

10. Unless it's trump, why attack someone who's not there to defend him/herself?

I think that's the reason. Also, the questions weren't about Biden.

[AJT]

11. There was no question where bringing in Biden would have been fitting.

As the herd gets culled thete will be more time spent on their competitors.

[JI7]

12. mostly because he wasn't there

[tirebiter]

13. Irrelavent

Trump was the target.

[Hekate]

14. Because Dems are not doing this for Brian's personal entertainment...

I think the aforementioned gentleman from MSNBC Brian Williams is sententious and too in love with the sound of his own voice at the best of times -- but that comment was truly disgusting.

[Voltaire2]

15. They focused on issues that matter.

So sorry it wasn’t nt all about The Great Gaffesby.

[SouthernProgressive]

16. Because Biden is extremely well liked and respected by the party as a whole.

Attacks on him seem to have a negative impact on the attacker, not Biden. Warren seems to know how to do it when she wants. She critiques him on policy in a respectful yet forceful manner.

[loyalsister]

18. Currently the campaigns are affirmative

I'm sure the commentators would have more fun with an ugly competition, but the candidates were more focused on making their opening arguments. There is no reason to bring him into the room.

[Recursion]

19. If you're polling at 1% you need to stomp the other also-rans

And if you're polling in the teens you don't want to burn your bridges.

Once the back end of the pack consolidates you'll see more of them taking potshots at Biden. Yang already picked a pretty effective fight with him last week.

[thesquanderer]

21. To criticize someone not even there is to acknowledge that you are an also-ran next to him.

At this point, it is more in a candidate's interest to come across as "we're all in this thing" than "I'm at the back of the pack."