This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/30/us/politics/democratic-debate-live-updates.html

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Live Updates Ahead of Tonight’s Democratic Debate Democratic Debate: Live Updates Ahead of Night 1
(32 minutes later)
The Democratic debate will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern in Detroit, featuring 10 candidates including Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind. The face-off between Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren has been billed as the marquee matchup of Tuesday’s debate. The two progressive standard-bearers share much in common in terms of policy, and at first glance they seem similarly situated in the polls: They each hold around 15 percent in the most recent surveys, placing them in a rough tie for second place behind Joseph R. Biden Jr., the former vice president. But there’s more divergence in their supporters than one might think.
The candidates did walk-throughs of the Fox Theater debate site on Tuesday afternoon while some of their campaigns sent email to supporters asking for help meeting pre-debate fund-raising goals.
In the hours before the debate, which will be broadcast on CNN, candidates were honing their opening statements. The June Democratic debates didn’t include opening statements, so these debates offer candidates a chance to pitch themselves before facing tough questions.
The face-off between Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren has been billed as the marquee matchup of Tuesday’s debate. The two progressive standard-bearers share much in common in terms of policy, and at first glance they seem similarly situated in the polls: They each hold around 15 percent in the most recent surveys, placing them in a rough tie for second place behind Joseph R. Biden Jr. But there’s more divergence in their supporters than one might think.
Ms. Warren draws from a whiter, more affluent and better-educated group of Democrats; Mr. Sanders’s supporters, on the other hand, are younger, more diverse, less affluent and less likely to have graduated from college.Ms. Warren draws from a whiter, more affluent and better-educated group of Democrats; Mr. Sanders’s supporters, on the other hand, are younger, more diverse, less affluent and less likely to have graduated from college.
And while Ms. Warren’s gains over the last several months might seem to have come at the expense of Mr. Sanders, it is not so clear whether the two candidates are competing for the same group of voters. Polls show that Senator Kamala Harris, not Mr. Sanders, is the second choice for a plurality of Ms. Warren’s supporters, according to Morning Consult polls. Perhaps surprisingly, Mr. Biden is the second choice for a plurality of Mr. Biden’s supporters. Should either falter, it is not obvious that the other stands to make outsize gains, at least in the polls. And while Ms. Warren’s gains over the last several months might seem to have come at the expense of Mr. Sanders, it is not so clear whether the two candidates are competing for the same group of voters. Polls show that Senator Kamala Harris, not Mr. Sanders, is the second choice for a plurality of Ms. Warren’s supporters, according to Morning Consult polls. Perhaps surprisingly, Mr. Biden is the second choice for a plurality of Mr. Sanders’s supporters. Should either falter, it is not obvious that the other stands to make outsize gains, at least in the polls.
For now, Mr. Sanders and Ms. Warren trail Mr. Biden in no small part because of Mr. Biden’s support among older, more moderate and black voters. Many of the other candidates onstage Tuesday have similar challenges.For now, Mr. Sanders and Ms. Warren trail Mr. Biden in no small part because of Mr. Biden’s support among older, more moderate and black voters. Many of the other candidates onstage Tuesday have similar challenges.
Pete Buttigieg, for instance, draws from a particularly well-educated and white group of Democrats. It is enough to give him around 6 percent of Democrats nationwide, and a chance to compete in Iowa and New Hampshire, where voters are relatively white. But it will be difficult for him, or anyone, to contend for the nomination without broader support among nonwhite Democrats.Pete Buttigieg, for instance, draws from a particularly well-educated and white group of Democrats. It is enough to give him around 6 percent of Democrats nationwide, and a chance to compete in Iowa and New Hampshire, where voters are relatively white. But it will be difficult for him, or anyone, to contend for the nomination without broader support among nonwhite Democrats.
Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington visited the Islamic Center of Detroit in Dearborn for a roundtable with Muslim leaders, fielding questions on the ban on travel from several predominantly Muslim countries as well as the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado stopped by a pipefitters training center in Troy to discuss workforce development. And former Representative John Delaney hosted a meeting with 15 minority entrepreneurs at a bakery in Detroit.
Democratic party officials also used the closure of a General Motors plant in Michigan for an event to make their case that President Donald Trump failed to keep his promises to blue collar workers in the swing state.
Representative Dan Kildee, a Democrat from Flint, said Mr. Trump offered voters “false hope” about the auto industry.
“He cynically plays to people’s anxiety and fear by giving them hope that is not founded on anything,” he said.
Warren Transmission in Warren, Mich., across the street from where Democrats held the event, will end operations tomorrow. During his presidential campaign, Mr. Trump told workers in Warren: “If I’m elected you won’t lose one plant.”
Their event prompted the automaker to preemptively release factsheets detailing their U.S. operations, anticipating that they could come under withering criticism during the debates. GM announced in November it would cut a total of about 15,000 jobs and end production at five North American plants, included eliminating about 8,000 salaried workers.
One of the Michigan women who helped Democrats capture the House of Representatives last year warned her party in stark terms on Tuesday that it could not afford to run too far to the left and expect to carry her state in 2020.
Representative Elissa Slotkin, a former intelligence analyst who defeated an incumbent Republican in the Detroit suburbs, said in an interview blocks from the Fox Theater — that Democrats should ground their campaigns on “practical ideas of how to fix things” rather than promises of social transformation or caustic attacks on President Trump.
“They’re looking for someone who’s a uniter and not a divider,” Ms. Slotkin said of Michigan voters. “Someone who’s still hopeful in talking about the great things about this country.”
Though she did not criticize any candidates by name, Ms. Slotkin seemed to indicate discomfort with two: Invoking one of Ms. Warren’s signature phrases, she said voters in her district were not looking for sweeping “structural change” in the economy. Neither, she said, were they rejecting “the American concept of capitalism” — a likely allusion to the self-described democratic socialism of Mr. Sanders.
Voters, she said, were “losing faith that the government can do small things” — let alone enact monumental economic change.
Ms. Slotkin said candidates who want to carry Michigan should take note of the Democratic ticket voters here embraced last year.
“We had an election in November,” Ms. Slotkin said. “From governor all the way down, we elected moderate, reasonable, practical Democratic women.”
Of the 2020 field, she lamented, “I’m not sure many of these candidates are actually listening. They know they have to win, but they’re not really listening.”
The candidates are set to face off beneath the ornate colored-glass ceiling of the historic Fox Theater, a gilded Deco movie theater turned concert hall. Gold-leafed Corinthian columns frame the stage, and the walls are adorned with carved butterflies, griffins, and smiling Hindu deities.The candidates are set to face off beneath the ornate colored-glass ceiling of the historic Fox Theater, a gilded Deco movie theater turned concert hall. Gold-leafed Corinthian columns frame the stage, and the walls are adorned with carved butterflies, griffins, and smiling Hindu deities.
About 3,500 people are expected to attend in person, with tickets handed out mostly by the Democratic National Committee and state party groups. Each candidate is allotted a limited set of tickets, as well.About 3,500 people are expected to attend in person, with tickets handed out mostly by the Democratic National Committee and state party groups. Each candidate is allotted a limited set of tickets, as well.
For the hundreds of political reporters who have swarmed this Midwestern city, CNN is offering a full cash bar and grill in the so-called “press file,” where journalists gather in front of flat-screen TVs to watch the proceedings. The network rented out a local sports bar, Hockeytown Cafe, for the week, with deep dish pizzas and burgers on the menu. (No sign of Detroit’s famed “Coney dog,” topped with chili.)For the hundreds of political reporters who have swarmed this Midwestern city, CNN is offering a full cash bar and grill in the so-called “press file,” where journalists gather in front of flat-screen TVs to watch the proceedings. The network rented out a local sports bar, Hockeytown Cafe, for the week, with deep dish pizzas and burgers on the menu. (No sign of Detroit’s famed “Coney dog,” topped with chili.)
The National Confectioners Association — otherwise known as Big Candy — is also partnering with CNN to provide reporters with sweet refreshments, like Hershey Kisses.The National Confectioners Association — otherwise known as Big Candy — is also partnering with CNN to provide reporters with sweet refreshments, like Hershey Kisses.
But journalists may be less enthused by the “spin room,” the area where candidates emerge post-debate to meet the press. CNN’s spin area is a relatively small patch of carpet, squeezed in on the sides by TV news camera stations. Expect some thrown elbows.But journalists may be less enthused by the “spin room,” the area where candidates emerge post-debate to meet the press. CNN’s spin area is a relatively small patch of carpet, squeezed in on the sides by TV news camera stations. Expect some thrown elbows.
Reported and written by Nate Cohn, Katie Glueck, Shane Goldmacher and Michael Grynbaum. Reported and written by Nate Cohn, Katie Glueck, Shane Goldmacher, Lisa Lerer and Michael Grynbaum.