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Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders go head to head in second Democratic debate Kamala Harris attacks Joe Biden's record on race in debate's key moment
(about 2 hours later)
Ten more Democratic presidential hopefuls are facing off at the second night of the Democratic debates in Florida on Thursday night, with a marquee matchup between two frontrunners – Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. Ten more Democratic presidential candidates clashed in Miami on Thursday night over the best approach to remove Donald Trump from office at the 2020 election, in a contentious debate that saw an explosive exchange on race that rattled the field’s frontrunner, Joe Biden.
For the candidates on stage at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami for the second installment of back-to-back debates that are airing on on NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo, the evening presents a national platform to present their pitch to be the one Democratic challenger to take on Donald Trump in the 2020 election. On a stage divided along generational and ideological lines, the debate – the second over two days to accommodate the huge field of candidates – saw Biden square up against the Vermont senator Bernie Sanders.
Sanders kicked off proceedings, launching into his classic stump speech, followed by former vice president Biden, who began with an attack Donald Trump. But the two veteran politicians were overshadowed by strong performances from other candidates, which highlighted the deep rifts in the party over how aggressively the next president should push to transform the US economy, including on issues of healthcare and how much to tax the wealthiest Americans.
California congressman Eric Swalwell was the first of the night to attack Biden, saying he was a child when Biden talked about the need to “pass the torch” to young people. The most dramatic moment of the evening came in response to a question about race and policing, when California senator Kamala Harris interjected, saying that she had a right to respond as the only black candidate on stage. She then directed her comments to Biden, zeroing in on his record on race.
As moderators tried to move the discussion on, squabbling erupted, prompting the first stand out line from California senator Kamala Harris: “America does not want to witness a food fight. They want to know how we’re gonna put food on the table.” “I do not believe you are a racist,” Harris said, looking directly at the former vice-president. “But,” she continued, “it is personal and it was actually hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators who built their reputations and career on the segregation of race in this country.”
Thursday’s group is likely to be hoping for the kind of reception the New Jersey senator Cory Booker, Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren and former housing secretary Julián Castro received on Wednesday night, while mustering more star power than the former El Paso congressman Beto O’Rourke was able to deliver. Her attack was a reference to a remark Biden made recently on the campaign trail in which he spoke fondly of his relationship with segregationist senators. When called on by his rivals to apologize, he refused.
“That is a mischaracterization of my position across the board. I did not praise racists,” Biden said.
Harris then attacked Biden for his past opposition to bussing minority students to schools in majority-white districts. She says when he opposed bussing, there was a little black girl in Oakland, California, who was being bussed to a better school
“And that little girl was me,” Harris said.
Growing visibly upset Biden replied, saying he did not oppose bussing: “What I opposed is bussing ordered by the Department of education. That’s what I opposed.”
For the candidates on stage at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the second installment of back-to-back debates, the evening presented a national platform to present their pitch to be the one Democratic challenger to take on Trump in the 2020 election.
Sanders had kicked off proceedings, launching into his classic stump speech, followed by former vice-president Biden, who began with an attack Donald Trump.
But the California congressman Eric Swalwell provided the first surprise of the night, with an attack on Biden, repeatedly saying he needed to “pass the torch” to younger Democrats.
As moderators tried to move the discussion on, squabbling erupted, prompting the first standout line from California senator Harris: “America does not want to witness a food fight. They want to know how we’re gonna put food on the table.”
Each candidate would have been hoping for the kind of positive reception the New Jersey senator Cory Booker, Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren and former housing secretary Julián Castro received on Wednesday night, during the first of the two debates.
Democratic 2020 candidates clash on healthcare, immigration and economy in first debateDemocratic 2020 candidates clash on healthcare, immigration and economy in first debate
As on Wednesday, the debate lineup reflects the diversity of a party that is increasingly led by women and people of color. On stage, there will be three women – the California senator Kamala Harris, New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and author Marianne Williamson – as well as an openly gay man – Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Andrew Yang is Asian American and Harris is black and Asian American. Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, and Biden, an avowed moderate, represent the two competing visions for the party and the country.
The debate will also include two Coloradans: Senator Michael Bennet, who had previously served as the chief of staff for the other, former governor John Hickenlooper. As on Wednesday, the debate lineup reflected the diversity of a party that is increasingly led by women and people of color. On stage, there were three women – the Harris, New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and author Marianne Williamson – as well as an openly gay man – Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Andrew Yang is Asian American and Harris is black and Asian American.
But even more so than the first debate, the candidates will represent the ideological and generational span of the party. Forty years separate Buttigieg, who is 37, and Sanders, who is 77. But even more so than the first debate, the candidates represented the ideological and generational span of the party. Forty years separate Buttigieg, who is 37, and Sanders, who is 77.
Meanwhile, Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, and Biden, an avowed moderate, will represent the two competing visions for the party and the country. The debate also included two Coloradans: Senator Michael Bennet, who had previously served as the chief of staff for the other, former governor John Hickenlooper.
Biden is the best-known candidate in the field and has consistently led national and state polls since he entered the race in April. But he has stumbled in recent weeks, clashing with his rivals over comments touting his civil working relationship with segregationist senators. He also recently reversed his long-held support for a ban on the use of federal money to pay for abortions, a shift his critics said showed how out of touch he was with the modern Democratic party.Biden is the best-known candidate in the field and has consistently led national and state polls since he entered the race in April. But he has stumbled in recent weeks, clashing with his rivals over comments touting his civil working relationship with segregationist senators. He also recently reversed his long-held support for a ban on the use of federal money to pay for abortions, a shift his critics said showed how out of touch he was with the modern Democratic party.
Where do the 2020 Democratic candidates stand on the key issues?Where do the 2020 Democratic candidates stand on the key issues?
Sanders has leveled oblique attacks and Biden, who told donors at a closed-door fundraiser in New York earlier this month that he could combat inequality without demonizing wealthy Americans. Under a Biden administration, he told the donors, “Nothing would fundamentally change.”Sanders has leveled oblique attacks and Biden, who told donors at a closed-door fundraiser in New York earlier this month that he could combat inequality without demonizing wealthy Americans. Under a Biden administration, he told the donors, “Nothing would fundamentally change.”
Biden has argued that Trump is an “aberration” and that the damage the president has inflicted on the country during his term in office can be undone if he is ousted.Biden has argued that Trump is an “aberration” and that the damage the president has inflicted on the country during his term in office can be undone if he is ousted.
With support from black voters and an appeal to disaffected Democrats in the midwest, Biden believes he can rebuild the multiracial coalition that twice elected Barack Obama as president. Expect the former vice-president to highlight his relationship with Obama, who remains one of the most popular Democrats in the country.With support from black voters and an appeal to disaffected Democrats in the midwest, Biden believes he can rebuild the multiracial coalition that twice elected Barack Obama as president. Expect the former vice-president to highlight his relationship with Obama, who remains one of the most popular Democrats in the country.
Sanders, by contrast, has called for a political revolution, championing progressive policies that would transform the US economy. His political influence is reflected in the Democratic field, where two candidates on stage on Wednesday night raised their hand in support of a key pillar of his Medicare for All healthcare proposal that would eliminate private insurance companies.Sanders, by contrast, has called for a political revolution, championing progressive policies that would transform the US economy. His political influence is reflected in the Democratic field, where two candidates on stage on Wednesday night raised their hand in support of a key pillar of his Medicare for All healthcare proposal that would eliminate private insurance companies.
For all the attention that will surely be heaped on the field’s heavyweights, the evening offers an opportunity for Harris to break out. Despite a strong entry into the race, the California lawmaker has struggled to stand out in the way she was able to during contentious Senate hearings with Trump appointees on Capitol Hill. For all the attention that will surely be heaped on the field’s heavyweights, the evening offered an opportunity for Harris to break out, and she did. Despite a strong entry into the race, the California lawmaker had struggled to stand out in the way she was able to during contentious Senate hearings with Trump appointees on Capitol Hill.
This could also be a big night for Buttigieg, who soared from near-anonymity to the top of the Democratic field. But he has faced sharp criticism for his handling of a fatal shooting of a black man by a white police officer in South Bend. No one has ever jumped from mayor to president and Thursday could be his opportunity to demonstrate that he has the experience and leadership for the nation’s highest office. It was also a big night for Buttigieg, who has soared from near-anonymity to the top of the Democratic field. But he has faced sharp criticism for his handling of a fatal shooting of a black man by a white police officer in South Bend. No one has ever jumped from mayor to president and Thursday could be his opportunity to demonstrate that he has the experience and leadership for the nation’s highest office.
It could also prove to be a make-or-break moment for Kirsten Gillibrand, whose campaign has underperformed.
Then there are the flamethrowers and wildcards. Yang has gained an online following around his proposal for a universal basic income. Hickenlooper, meanwhile, has attracted some attention by going after Sanders’s support for socialism. He also has a habit of making awkward comments, like when he revealed during a CNN town hall that he once took his mother to see a pornographic film.
The first 10 Democratic candidates to take the stage on Wednesday covered a range of topics, including healthcare, immigration, climate change and guns. Those candidates were: Warren, Booker, Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar, Castro, O’Rourke, Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Washington governor Jay Inslee, New York mayor Bill de Blasio, Ohio congressman Tim Ryan and former Maryland congressman John Delaney.
US elections 2020US elections 2020
US politicsUS politics
DemocratsDemocrats
Bernie SandersBernie Sanders
Joe BidenJoe Biden
Kamala HarrisKamala Harris
Pete ButtigiegPete Buttigieg
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