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Elizabeth Warren attacks 'arrogant billionaire' Bloomberg as Democratic rivals spar Bloomberg roundly attacked by rivals in fieriest Democratic debate so far
(about 1 hour later)
Contenders face off in high-stakes Nevada contest with billionaire Mike Bloomberg making first debate appearanceContenders face off in high-stakes Nevada contest with billionaire Mike Bloomberg making first debate appearance
The top six Democratic presidential candidates faced off in Las Vegas on Wednesday for a high-stakes debate marked by aggressive attacks ahead of Saturday’s caucuses in Nevada. The top six Democratic presidential candidates faced off in Las Vegas on Wednesday in the most combative debate of the election and days before the high-stakes caucuses in Nevada.
It was the first debate for the former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg, who entered the race late last year and has faced fierce criticism from his rival Democrats in recent weeks. Joining Bloomberg on stage were senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar; the former vice-president Joe Biden and the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor, Pete Buttigieg. It was the first debate for Mike Bloomberg, and the former New York mayor’s rivals in the Democratic race for president immediately took aim – attacking him for his legacy on racist policing and reports of sexist comments and discrimination at his companies.
In the first minutes of the debate, Sanders argued that with Bloomberg’s legacy of stop-and-frisk, the former mayor would be unable to broaden the Democratic party’s coalition and defeat the president. In the first minutes of the debate, the Vermont senator Bernie Sanders argued that Bloomberg’s legacy of stop-and-frisk made it impossible for him to broaden the Democratic party’s coalition and defeat Donald Trump.
Bloomberg fired back. If Sanders is the candidate, the mayor said, “we will have Donald Trump for the next four years.” Bloomberg fired back, saying if Sanders is the nominee,“we will have Donald Trump for the next four years.”
Warren’s first remarks also took aim at Bloomberg. She said: “Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another.” Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren repeatedly landed the most biting critiques ofBloomberg, including comparing him to Trump in her opening remarks. “Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another.”
Bloomberg stumbled in his response to a series of stop-and-frisk questions, saying he was “embarrassed” by the law enforcement tactic deployed in New York while he was mayor: “I’ve apologized. I’ve asked for forgiveness. We stopped too many people.” From the start, Bloomberg stumbled in his response to a series of stop-and-frisk questions, saying he was “embarrassed” by the tactic deployed in New York while he was mayor: “I’ve apologized. I’ve asked for forgiveness. We stopped too many people.”
He also claimed that he “discovered” the city was conducting too many stops and that he reduced use of the policy. In reality a court ordered the city to stop the practice, deeming it unconstitutional. Bloomberg also claimed that he “discovered” the city was conducting too many stops and that he reduced use of the policy. In reality, a court ordered the city to stop the practice, deeming it unconstitutional.
“You need a different apology,” Warren noted. According to Warren, that wasn’t enough. “You need a different apology,” she said.
The debate at the Paris Theater in Vegas came one week after Sanders won the New Hampshire primary, setting the stage for a primary battle between the Vermont senator and the more moderate candidates. On the heels of a strong performance in the chaotic Iowa caucuses, Buttigieg came in a close second in New Hampshire, where Klobuchar’s unexpected surge won her third place, and Warren and Biden both experienced disappointing results. Warren also targeted Bloomberg over non-disclosure agreements several women at his company have signed while settling lawsuits.She repeatedly urged him to disclose how many NDAs women had signed and to let the women speak freely about their experiences. Bloomberg demurred and ultimately refused to answer her direct questions, leading to boos from the crowd.
Bloomberg is not competing in Nevada, but he has been climbing in polls after spending more on ads than any candidate in US political history. He also sat out the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries and has mostly been making his case to voters through TV ads and scripted public events. He qualified for the debate on Tuesday, after a new national NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll showed him in second place at 19%. Bloomberg defended his record on women: “In my company, lots and lots of women have big responsibilities.”
He was able to qualify following a controversial decision by the Democratic National Committee to remove the requirement that candidates have a certain number of individual donors. Bloomberg’s campaign is self-funded. Warren countered: “I hope you heard what his defense was: ‘I’ve been nice to some women.’”
In the days before the debate, Warren said it was a shame that Bloomberg could “buy his way” in, adding that it would at least give the candidates a chance to demonstrate “how we each take on an egomaniac billionaire”. The debate at the Paris Theater in Vegas came one week after Sanders won the New Hampshire primary, setting the stage for a primary battle between the Vermont senator and the more moderate candidates. On the heels of a strong performance in the chaotic Iowa caucuses, former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg came in a close second in New Hampshire, where Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar’s unexpected surge won her third place, and Warren and Joe Biden both experienced disappointing results.
Bloomberg’s campaign also clashed with several others. Last week, the former mayor’s organization attacked Sanders with a new ad, as the senator increasingly criticized him on the campaign trail, telling supporters: “We are a democracy, not an oligarchy.” Bloomberg is not competing in Nevada, but he had been climbing in polls after spending more on ads than any candidate in US political history. He also sat out the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries and had mostly been making his case to voters through TV ads and scripted public events up until Wednesday’s debate.
As the debate approached, Bloomberg’s rivals doubled down on their critiques. Biden criticized Bloomberg for incorporating Barack Obama into his ads even though he did not endorse the president in 2008. And Bloomberg’s campaign criticized Bernie Sanders’ press secretary for falsely claiming that Bloomberg had previously suffered heart attacks, as Sanders faces renewed scrutiny over his health. Buttigieg and Klobuchar, the more centrist candidates from the midwest, were looking on Wednesday to broaden their coalitions in states like Nevada that are significantly more diverse than Iowa and New Hampshire.
Buttigieg and Klobuchar, the more centrist candidates from the midwest, are looking to broaden their coalitions in states like Nevada that are significantly more diverse than Iowa and New Hampshire. Buttigieg repeatedly used his time to go after Sanders and Bloomberg, claiming that they were “the two most polarizing figures on this stage” and that he had broader appeal.
Biden’s campaign has deployed additional staff to Nevada, hoping the caucus will deliver some sort of comeback after his poor performance in the first two states led to a significant drop in his national poll numbers. Recent polls have shown Sanders in the lead in Nevada. “Let’s put forward somebody who is actually a Democrat,” Buttigieg said. He also criticized the Sanders campaign over the alleged aggressive behavior and tactics of his supporters, prompting Sanders to note that the black women working on his campaign face intense abuse online.
Klobuchar, a former prosecutor, faced difficult questions over her criminal justice record and her recent inability to name the president of Mexico. After Buttigieg attacked her about forgetting the president’s name, she responded: “Are you trying to say that I’m dumb? Are you mocking me here, Pete?”
Warren came to Klobuchar’s defense, saying Buttigieg’s attack was unwarranted.
Sanders, the frontrunner, avoided the brunt of attacks, with Buttigieg at one point asked to comment on an essay he wrote in 2000 praising the senator. Toward the end of the debate, Buttigieg and Klobuchar took their focus off of Bloomberg and Sanders, and instead tore each other down. “You memorized a bunch of talking points,” Klobuchar said, telling the former mayor he has not been “in the arena”.
Buttigieg responded: “I’m used to senators telling mayors that senators are more important. You don’t have to be in Washington to matter.”
Biden’s campaign had deployed additional staff to Nevada, hoping the caucus will deliver some sort of comeback after his poor performance in the first two states led to a significant drop in his national poll numbers. The former vice-president went after Bloomberg with some energetic remarks, but faced renewed questions about his record from Warren and other candidates.
Nevada is nearly 30% Latino and 10% black and has become increasingly Democratic in recent years. The state also has a strong record of supporting women in office and was the first in the country to have a majority-female legislature.Nevada is nearly 30% Latino and 10% black and has become increasingly Democratic in recent years. The state also has a strong record of supporting women in office and was the first in the country to have a majority-female legislature.
With the long-shot candidate Andrew Yang out of the race, the debate once again features an all white lineup. With the long-shot candidate Andrew Yang out of the race, the debate once again featured an all white lineup.
Inside the busy lobby of the Paris Theater on Wednesday afternoon, groups of Nevada voters tried to get seats to the final debate before their polls. “This is the biggest election of our lifetime,” said Linda Gannon, a 49-year-old Vegas resident who showed up to the debate hoping to get a seat to see Buttigieg, her top choice. “I’m a bit worried about him in Nevada, but I think he’s got a shot. I feel confident any of the Democrats can beat Trump. We have to feel that way, and I will support any of them.”Inside the busy lobby of the Paris Theater on Wednesday afternoon, groups of Nevada voters tried to get seats to the final debate before their polls. “This is the biggest election of our lifetime,” said Linda Gannon, a 49-year-old Vegas resident who showed up to the debate hoping to get a seat to see Buttigieg, her top choice. “I’m a bit worried about him in Nevada, but I think he’s got a shot. I feel confident any of the Democrats can beat Trump. We have to feel that way, and I will support any of them.”
Lorraine Oliver, a 68-year-old public health nurse in line to get into the debate, said she recently got a chance to meet Warren in person and was sold.Lorraine Oliver, a 68-year-old public health nurse in line to get into the debate, said she recently got a chance to meet Warren in person and was sold.
“She has such in-depth knowledge. But she’s not polling as well as I’d like. I need her to shoot up in the polls,” she said, adding: “I’m excited for an opportunity to get rid of Trump. He’s done enough to make people angry. We’re gonna fight back.”“She has such in-depth knowledge. But she’s not polling as well as I’d like. I need her to shoot up in the polls,” she said, adding: “I’m excited for an opportunity to get rid of Trump. He’s done enough to make people angry. We’re gonna fight back.”
Also on line were several Andrew Yang fans who said they were continuing to advocate for their favorite candidate, even though he has already suspended his campaign.Also on line were several Andrew Yang fans who said they were continuing to advocate for their favorite candidate, even though he has already suspended his campaign.
“It’s larger than him. It’s about his movement,” said Hannah Won, a 37-year-old arts advocate.“It’s larger than him. It’s about his movement,” said Hannah Won, a 37-year-old arts advocate.
“He’s still doing well, and I’m still here representing Yang,” added Emilio Medina. “His entire movement is bigger than the the presidency.”“He’s still doing well, and I’m still here representing Yang,” added Emilio Medina. “His entire movement is bigger than the the presidency.”