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| Mike Bloomberg under fire in most brutal Democratic debate yet – live | Mike Bloomberg under fire in most brutal Democratic debate yet – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Warren comes out swinging while Bloomberg is criticized over stop-and-frisk and treatment of women | Warren comes out swinging while Bloomberg is criticized over stop-and-frisk and treatment of women |
| There were lots of disagreements on Wednesday’s debate stage in Las Vegas, but one thing that everyone seems to agree on is that the debate marked the most intense and combative one of the primary cycle. Bloomberg went after Sanders, Buttigieg went after Klobuchar, and Warren pretty much went after everyone. | |
| Here’s our early analysis ... | |
| Bloomberg under attack from the outset | |
| Bloomberg’s rivals challenged the former New York Mayor from the outset, critiquing his legacy on stop-and-frisk, reports of past sexist remarks, and the non-disclosure agreements several women at his company have signed while settling lawsuits. | |
| “Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another,” Warren said, comparing Bloomberg to Donald Trump. | |
| Warren made a fiery comeback | |
| Having posted disappointing results in Iowa and New Hampshire, Warren needed a strong performance. She came out swinging, criticizing her rivals with well prepared remarks. Here’s how she ripped through the healthcare plans of her rivals earlier in tonight’s debate: | |
| She also landed one of the punchiest attacks on Bloomberg, bringing the attention to his history of derogatory remarks about women: | |
| Pete and Amy appeared out to destroy each other | |
| Both midwestern candidates are competing in a crowded central lane, and tore each other down near the end of the debate. “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.” | |
| Earlier in the evening, Buttigieg had criticized Klobuchar, for forgetting the name of the president of Mexico, she responded: “Are you trying to say that I’m dumb? Are you mocking me here, Pete?” | |
| And Bernie once again sailed through | |
| Amid the attacks on Bloomberg and the rivalry between Buttigieg and Klobuchar, Sanders faced relatively little scrutiny. | |
| What a debate that was. Here’s how people have been responding to it online, with the battles between the candidates drawing particular attention (and in some cases delight): | What a debate that was. Here’s how people have been responding to it online, with the battles between the candidates drawing particular attention (and in some cases delight): |
| While Warren went in on Bloomberg, whose policies and record stand in sharp contrast to hers, she didn’t take on front-runner Bernie Sanders as much. Her surrogates brushed off questions as to why. | While Warren went in on Bloomberg, whose policies and record stand in sharp contrast to hers, she didn’t take on front-runner Bernie Sanders as much. Her surrogates brushed off questions as to why. |
| “It’s about showing who can bring together that coalition,” said Allison Stevens, a DNC committeewoman from Nevada. Warren can bring “people who look like me and people who look like Nevada together,” she said, adding, “And I happen to be a millennial of color.” | “It’s about showing who can bring together that coalition,” said Allison Stevens, a DNC committeewoman from Nevada. Warren can bring “people who look like me and people who look like Nevada together,” she said, adding, “And I happen to be a millennial of color.” |
| Though Sanders currently had the most support from young people and people of color, Stevens said Warren has shown she has the “fighting spirit” required to beat Donald Trump in the general election. | Though Sanders currently had the most support from young people and people of color, Stevens said Warren has shown she has the “fighting spirit” required to beat Donald Trump in the general election. |
| Here are the final tallies for each candidate’s speaking time tonight, with Elizabeth Warren coming out top, followed closely by Amy Klobuchar: | Here are the final tallies for each candidate’s speaking time tonight, with Elizabeth Warren coming out top, followed closely by Amy Klobuchar: |
| Julian Castro — who has been a surrogate for Elizabeth Warren since dropping out of the presidential race himself — said the Massachusetts senator had “won the debate, hands down.” | Julian Castro — who has been a surrogate for Elizabeth Warren since dropping out of the presidential race himself — said the Massachusetts senator had “won the debate, hands down.” |
| “She showed why she’s the best person to take on Donald Trump,” Castro said, emphasizing Warren’s sparring with Mike Bloomberg. | “She showed why she’s the best person to take on Donald Trump,” Castro said, emphasizing Warren’s sparring with Mike Bloomberg. |
| Bloomberg “was completely exposed and it was obvious the whole night,” Castro said. | Bloomberg “was completely exposed and it was obvious the whole night,” Castro said. |
| Democrats’ closing statements were marked by a dramatic intervention, when protesters erupted in the middle of Joe Biden’s final remarks. | Democrats’ closing statements were marked by a dramatic intervention, when protesters erupted in the middle of Joe Biden’s final remarks. |
| Looks like those protesters were immigrant rights activists, who lamented the lack of discussion around immigration during the debate. | Looks like those protesters were immigrant rights activists, who lamented the lack of discussion around immigration during the debate. |
| Here’s video of the moment. | Here’s video of the moment. |
| The immigrant rights group Raices claimed responsibility for the protest afterwards. | The immigrant rights group Raices claimed responsibility for the protest afterwards. |
| Should billionaires exist? This is a question the candidates have been made to grapple with tonight. | Should billionaires exist? This is a question the candidates have been made to grapple with tonight. |
| While Bernie Sanders, whose tweet last year inspired the question, is firmly on the side of getting rid of billionaires, he’s the only one onstage who supports the idea. But not all viewers are so against it: | While Bernie Sanders, whose tweet last year inspired the question, is firmly on the side of getting rid of billionaires, he’s the only one onstage who supports the idea. But not all viewers are so against it: |
| The debate is wrapping up, and candidates are making their closing arguments. As Amy Klobuchar put it, “This has been quite a debate.” | The debate is wrapping up, and candidates are making their closing arguments. As Amy Klobuchar put it, “This has been quite a debate.” |
| Klobuchar: “I wish everyone was as perfect as you”. | Klobuchar: “I wish everyone was as perfect as you”. |
| Defending her record, she said to Buttigieg, “You’ve memorized a bunch of talking points, and a bunch of things,” after listing off immigration reform legislation she’s worked on as senator. | Defending her record, she said to Buttigieg, “You’ve memorized a bunch of talking points, and a bunch of things,” after listing off immigration reform legislation she’s worked on as senator. |
| There doesn’t seem to be much love lost between the two moderate contenders tonight. | There doesn’t seem to be much love lost between the two moderate contenders tonight. |
| United We Dream, which advocates for immigrant rights, weighed in: | United We Dream, which advocates for immigrant rights, weighed in: |
| Pete Buttigieg is once again trying to sell himself as the best middle ground. “Mayor Bloomberg thinks he can buy this election, he said. Senator Sanders wants to burn the house down.” | Pete Buttigieg is once again trying to sell himself as the best middle ground. “Mayor Bloomberg thinks he can buy this election, he said. Senator Sanders wants to burn the house down.” |
| He’s going after fellow moderate Amy Klobuchar on her record on immigration, breaking into a bit of Spanish. | He’s going after fellow moderate Amy Klobuchar on her record on immigration, breaking into a bit of Spanish. |
| Elizabeth Warren is coming out swinging against her opponents – having name-checked nearly all of them as she criticizes their campaign tactics and healthcare plans. | Elizabeth Warren is coming out swinging against her opponents – having name-checked nearly all of them as she criticizes their campaign tactics and healthcare plans. |
| Warren used her first answer to call out Mike Bloomberg for reportedly making sexist comments and using his personal fortune to bankroll his campaign, and she later criticized Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar and Bernie Sanders for their healthcare plans. Warren has seen her polling numbers slump in recent weeks, and her allies have complained that the media has covered her campaign unfairly since her third-place finish in Iowa. Klobuchar was able to turn in a much-better-than-expected showing in New Hampshire after a widely praised (and combative) debate performance earlier this month, and Warren may be hoping to replicate that success tonight. | Warren used her first answer to call out Mike Bloomberg for reportedly making sexist comments and using his personal fortune to bankroll his campaign, and she later criticized Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar and Bernie Sanders for their healthcare plans. Warren has seen her polling numbers slump in recent weeks, and her allies have complained that the media has covered her campaign unfairly since her third-place finish in Iowa. Klobuchar was able to turn in a much-better-than-expected showing in New Hampshire after a widely praised (and combative) debate performance earlier this month, and Warren may be hoping to replicate that success tonight. |
| Buttigieg failed to address the substance of the question that referenced his award-winning high school essay: Why does he lag in support among young people. While Buttigieg has drawn in many older, white supporters, Sanders has by far won over young people. Polls show | Buttigieg failed to address the substance of the question that referenced his award-winning high school essay: Why does he lag in support among young people. While Buttigieg has drawn in many older, white supporters, Sanders has by far won over young people. Polls show |
| Trump joins in attacks on Bloomberg | Trump joins in attacks on Bloomberg |
| The president is apparently keeping tabs on the debate tonight, even as he stands at a podium in Arizona, where he’s in the middle of a rally. | The president is apparently keeping tabs on the debate tonight, even as he stands at a podium in Arizona, where he’s in the middle of a rally. |
| “Now they have a new member of the crew, Mini Mike,” Trump said, referencing the former New York mayor’s 5ft8in stature. “No boxes, we call him no boxes.” | “Now they have a new member of the crew, Mini Mike,” Trump said, referencing the former New York mayor’s 5ft8in stature. “No boxes, we call him no boxes.” |
| “I hear he’s getting pounded tonight. I hear they’re pounding him,” he added, accusing Bloomberg of “buying” his candidacy. | “I hear he’s getting pounded tonight. I hear they’re pounding him,” he added, accusing Bloomberg of “buying” his candidacy. |
| The two wealthy New Yorkers have been trading barbs for the past week, with the president calling the former mayor a “loser” and Bloomberg describing the president as a “barking clown”. | The two wealthy New Yorkers have been trading barbs for the past week, with the president calling the former mayor a “loser” and Bloomberg describing the president as a “barking clown”. |
| Candidates have aggressively targeted Bloomberg since the debate’s opening, keeping the spotlight on his stop and frisk policy as well as his history of misogynistic insults. Warren hit Bloomberg with a particularly cutting remark when she said: “Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another.” | Candidates have aggressively targeted Bloomberg since the debate’s opening, keeping the spotlight on his stop and frisk policy as well as his history of misogynistic insults. Warren hit Bloomberg with a particularly cutting remark when she said: “Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another.” |
| “Let’s put forward somebody who is actually a Democrat,” said Buttigieg. | “Let’s put forward somebody who is actually a Democrat,” said Buttigieg. |
| “I was into Bernie before it was cool,” said Pete Buttigieg, responding to a question about his past admiration of the Vermont senator and his policies. Buttigieg won an award for an essay about Sanders that he wrote while in high school. But the camaraderie was short-lived. | “I was into Bernie before it was cool,” said Pete Buttigieg, responding to a question about his past admiration of the Vermont senator and his policies. Buttigieg won an award for an essay about Sanders that he wrote while in high school. But the camaraderie was short-lived. |
| Sanders and Buttigieg quarreled whether the country is better off with revolutionary change, or moderation. | Sanders and Buttigieg quarreled whether the country is better off with revolutionary change, or moderation. |
| In case you missed it, here’s the tense moment Amy Klobuchar asked Pete Buttigieg if he was calling her “dumb”, after he attacked her for not knowing the name of the Mexican president during an interview: | In case you missed it, here’s the tense moment Amy Klobuchar asked Pete Buttigieg if he was calling her “dumb”, after he attacked her for not knowing the name of the Mexican president during an interview: |
| Sanders retorted that Bloomberg’s brandishing of the communism descriptor was “a cheap shot.” In his zone, railing against the 1%, Sanders said: “We have socialism for the very rich, rugged individualism for the poor.” | Sanders retorted that Bloomberg’s brandishing of the communism descriptor was “a cheap shot.” In his zone, railing against the 1%, Sanders said: “We have socialism for the very rich, rugged individualism for the poor.” |
| Bloomberg hit back, “It’s ridiculous, we’re not going to throw out capitalism.” He jabbed Sanders on the fact that the Vermont senator has three homes and recently became a millionaire himself. | Bloomberg hit back, “It’s ridiculous, we’re not going to throw out capitalism.” He jabbed Sanders on the fact that the Vermont senator has three homes and recently became a millionaire himself. |
| Moderator Chuck Todd asked, “Mayor Bloomberg, should you exist?” | Moderator Chuck Todd asked, “Mayor Bloomberg, should you exist?” |
| “Should you have earned that much money?” | “Should you have earned that much money?” |
| Multibillionaire Bloomberg, of course, responded: “Yes,” adding that he was “giving it away” to make the country better. Contrasting himself with progressive Sanders and Warren, who endorse much higher taxes on the ultra-rich, Bloomberg said the country doesn’t need “communism”. | Multibillionaire Bloomberg, of course, responded: “Yes,” adding that he was “giving it away” to make the country better. Contrasting himself with progressive Sanders and Warren, who endorse much higher taxes on the ultra-rich, Bloomberg said the country doesn’t need “communism”. |
| Now Bloomberg is addressing his previous comments that scapegoated the end of racist redlining practices for the financial crisis. Redlining “is practiced everywhere and we have to cut it out”, he said, once again brushing away his past comments and policies. | Now Bloomberg is addressing his previous comments that scapegoated the end of racist redlining practices for the financial crisis. Redlining “is practiced everywhere and we have to cut it out”, he said, once again brushing away his past comments and policies. |
| Here’s how long each candidate has spoken so far tonight, according to the New York Times’ live tracker. It’s worth pointing out that Elizabeth Warren came in fifth at the end of the last debate. | Here’s how long each candidate has spoken so far tonight, according to the New York Times’ live tracker. It’s worth pointing out that Elizabeth Warren came in fifth at the end of the last debate. |
| And according to Twitter’s Nick Pacilio, these are the most tweeted about candidates so far: | And according to Twitter’s Nick Pacilio, these are the most tweeted about candidates so far: |