BBC: Democratic debates: Who were the winners and losers?

[nitpicker]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48766635

Democratic debates: Who were the winners and losers?

Anthony Zurcher
North America reporter
4 hours ago

The first Democratic debate double-header is in the books. Two nights, two groups of 10, one set of winners and losers. Here's a look at who ended up on top this week and who was left stumbling for the exits.

WINNERS

Kamala Harris

The California senator had the most memorable line of the debates, when she jumped into a moment of cacophony on the second evening with a zinger that is sure to be on heavy rotation in the post-debate coverage: "America does not want a food fight, they want to know how we are going to put food on the table."
(snip)

Elizabeth Warren

Like the Hippocratic Oath, Elizabeth Warren's first directive was to do no harm. She had the lighter of the two debate draws and so avoided most of the fireworks - which, given her steadily rising poll numbers, is exactly what she needed to do. Fireworks can be fun to watch, but it's easy to get burned.
(snip)
Julian Castro

As one of the multitude of candidates polling at or around 1%, Julian Castro had expectations that were low to non-existent. He easily surpassed them in the first debate, getting the better of Beto O'Rourke in an exchange on immigration, drawing applause for his call for policing reform and leaning heavily into his child-of-immigrants personal story.

Time will tell whether his moment in the limelight translates into anything more than fleeting glory - and, perhaps, a closer look from the eventual nominee for the vice-presidential slot.

LOSERS

Joe Biden

It looked like everything was breaking the former vice-president's way in the second debate. He wasn't always sharp in his answers and had the tin-eared "I'm still holding the torch" line - which could be a new slogan for the Baby Boom generation. But he warmed up over time, as he often does these days. He seemed to hit his stride in an answer about immigration and the plight of "children in cages" at the border.

Then Kamala Harris struck. For the first time in the debate, the vice-president was on the defensive. For the first time, he looked vulnerable. Colorado Senator Michael Bennet followed up, turning a Biden boast about coming up with a bipartisan budget deal during the Obama administration into fault - pointing out that the deal extended Republican-passed tax cuts.
(snip)

Beto O'Rourke

If the alarm bells aren't sounding in Beto O'Rourke's campaign, they should be. He's been sinking in the polls, and Wednesday night's debate performance is more likely to be an anchor than a lifeline.
(snip)

Everybody else not named Bernie Sanders or Pete Buttigieg

As fictional racecar driver Ricky Bobby might say, if you're not a debate winner, you're a debate loser. For all but maybe a half-dozen candidates in this 24-person field, the opportunities to emerge from relative obscurity and kick-start a moribund campaign are few and far between. This week's debates were one such moment.
(snip)

[RelativelyJones]

1. I really don't know why people think the "food fight" line was so great. Sounded canned .

[4139]

7. I couldn't watch last night but the first night often sounded like pre-recorded soundbites

Press 1 for immigration
Press 2 for healthcare
Press 3........

[Cha]

10. As lapfog posted on

another thread.. she said it just before she threw a plate of spaghetti at Joe Biden.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=174532

[MarcA]

2. Very Good Observations there. n/t

[democratisphere]

3. Biden and Warren were the winners.

Everyone else pales by comparison.
This is a single issue Presidential race. Defeat drumpf OTHERWISE nothing else matters.

[onetexan]

4. +1 -K&R - Kamala came out attacking because she's behind in polls &

Had to throw in the kitchen sink. I was put off by her twisting of Biden's words to try & hang him. Sorry K it didnt work.

On the other hand i thought Joe's rebutted quite well to all the jabs & questions directed at him.

[democratisphere]

5. Agreed.

[watoos]

6. Joe stumbled with his words,

Bennet layed a haymaker on Joe, knocking down Joe's boast about the budget which extended the Bush tax cuts permanently and gave us the Sequester which is still in effect. People don't realize that the sequester cuts 10% from reimbursements to Medicare doctors. Joe was bragging about that, not a smart move.

His stopping his answer to a question because his time was up didn't go over well with me. It looked like Joe was bailing on the question. IMO Joe didn't do that well in the debate.

[IluvPitties]

8. Joe is still the frontrunner.

He's well known and trusted by the American people.

[Honeycombe8]

9. I agree. The real contenders: Biden, Buttigieg, Harris, Sanders, Warren.

Everyone else is out. Unless they want to hang in and audition for V.P. or to get a story to write a book.