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/2020/02/20/us/politics/nevada-debate-democrats.html

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
After Rough Debate, Bloomberg Repeats Attack on Sanders After Rough Debate, Bloomberg Repeats Attack on Sanders
(32 minutes later)
SALT LAKE CITY — After a poor performance in a ferocious Democratic debate, former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg faced voters and the news media at a Thursday morning event in Utah as his campaign reckoned with the fallout from the televised verbal combat, which undercut all four moderate Democrats onstage at times and left Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren looking strengthened.SALT LAKE CITY — After a poor performance in a ferocious Democratic debate, former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg faced voters and the news media at a Thursday morning event in Utah as his campaign reckoned with the fallout from the televised verbal combat, which undercut all four moderate Democrats onstage at times and left Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren looking strengthened.
Mr. Bloomberg, attempting to move on quickly from the debate, used the Utah event to intensify his attacks on Mr. Sanders, the current polling leader in the field. He argued that nominating Mr. Sanders, a self-identified democratic socialist who has intensely passionate support in the party’s left wing, would lead to defeat against President Trump in November. Mr. Bloomberg, trying to move on quickly from the debate, used the Utah event to intensify his attacks on Mr. Sanders, the current polling leader in the field. He argued that nominating Mr. Sanders, a self-identified democratic socialist who has passionate support in the party’s left wing, would lead to defeat against President Trump in November.
“If we choose a candidate who appeals to a small base — like Senator Sanders — it will be a fatal error,” Mr. Bloomberg said. “We need Democrats and independents and Republicans to win.” Referring to the suburban moderate voters who helped Democrats win back the House in 2018, he added, “That was the coalition that propelled Democrats to success in the midterms — and it’s the coalition that we need to win in November.”“If we choose a candidate who appeals to a small base — like Senator Sanders — it will be a fatal error,” Mr. Bloomberg said. “We need Democrats and independents and Republicans to win.” Referring to the suburban moderate voters who helped Democrats win back the House in 2018, he added, “That was the coalition that propelled Democrats to success in the midterms — and it’s the coalition that we need to win in November.”
But behind the scenes on Thursday, Bloomberg campaign officials were attempting to assess how the debate would affect Mr. Bloomberg’s standing with voters just as he was beginning to break through on a national level. His inability to respond effectively to attacks over his wealth and his record on gender, race, stop-and-frisk policing tactics and other issues as a mayor and businessman in New York risked seriously harming his message that he would be the most competent and capable opponent in a general election against Mr. Trump. But behind the scenes on Thursday, Bloomberg campaign officials were trying to assess how the debate would affect Mr. Bloomberg’s standing with voters just as he was beginning to break through on a national level. His inability to respond effectively to attacks over his wealth and his record on gender, race, stop-and-frisk policing tactics and other issues as a mayor and businessman in New York risked seriously harming his message that he would be the most competent and capable opponent in a general election against Mr. Trump.
Campaign officials acknowledged that Mr. Bloomberg, who is typically not one to shy away from conflict, held back when confronted. His campaign manager, Kevin Sheekey, alluded to the candidate’s atypical restraint in a statement, saying, “He was just warming up.”Campaign officials acknowledged that Mr. Bloomberg, who is typically not one to shy away from conflict, held back when confronted. His campaign manager, Kevin Sheekey, alluded to the candidate’s atypical restraint in a statement, saying, “He was just warming up.”
“Everyone came to destroy Mike,” Mr. Sheekey said. “It didn’t happen. Everyone wanted him to lose his cool. He didn’t do it. He was the grown-up in the room.”“Everyone came to destroy Mike,” Mr. Sheekey said. “It didn’t happen. Everyone wanted him to lose his cool. He didn’t do it. He was the grown-up in the room.”
Mr. Bloomberg and his rivals drew a huge audience, and many voters were probably getting their first taste of the former mayor beyond his record-setting advertising onslaught. The debate averaged nearly 20 million viewers on NBC and MSNBC, the biggest live television audience ever for a Democratic debate, and millions more watched online, the networks said.Mr. Bloomberg and his rivals drew a huge audience, and many voters were probably getting their first taste of the former mayor beyond his record-setting advertising onslaught. The debate averaged nearly 20 million viewers on NBC and MSNBC, the biggest live television audience ever for a Democratic debate, and millions more watched online, the networks said.
David Axelrod, the architect of Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns, said Mr. Bloomberg’s debate debut was “kind of a disaster, and predictably so.”David Axelrod, the architect of Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns, said Mr. Bloomberg’s debate debut was “kind of a disaster, and predictably so.”
But he said Mr. Bloomberg’s voracious budget for television advertising — the former mayor has spent hundreds of millions of dollars so far — could paper over some of the deficiencies exposed on the debate stage. “One of the reasons he’s making gains is he’s reaching a lot of people that way,” Mr. Axelrod said.But he said Mr. Bloomberg’s voracious budget for television advertising — the former mayor has spent hundreds of millions of dollars so far — could paper over some of the deficiencies exposed on the debate stage. “One of the reasons he’s making gains is he’s reaching a lot of people that way,” Mr. Axelrod said.
Mr. Bloomberg’s team sought to capitalize on an effective debate moment for him, posting a video on his Twitter account Thursday morning that showed him emphasizing his business experience. But the video was deceptively edited to make it seem as if his statement had left the other candidates speechless for about 20 seconds.Mr. Bloomberg’s team sought to capitalize on an effective debate moment for him, posting a video on his Twitter account Thursday morning that showed him emphasizing his business experience. But the video was deceptively edited to make it seem as if his statement had left the other candidates speechless for about 20 seconds.
“I’m the only one here, I think, that’s ever started a business, is that fair?” Mr. Bloomberg asks in the clip. The video then cuts to shots of the other candidates, set against the sound of crickets chirping. The shots are spliced together to make it appear as though the candidates could not respond to the question — when, in reality, Mr. Bloomberg moved on after pausing for about a second.“I’m the only one here, I think, that’s ever started a business, is that fair?” Mr. Bloomberg asks in the clip. The video then cuts to shots of the other candidates, set against the sound of crickets chirping. The shots are spliced together to make it appear as though the candidates could not respond to the question — when, in reality, Mr. Bloomberg moved on after pausing for about a second.
The video was viewed nearly two million times within hours of being posted. Earlier this month, Twitter said it would begin labeling or removing such manipulated videos on its platform, though the company said the rules would not go into effect until March. The video was viewed nearly two million times within hours of being posted. This month, Twitter said it would begin labeling or removing such manipulated videos on its platform, though the company said the rules would not go into effect until March.
A Twitter spokeswoman said Thursday that the company would have “likely” labeled the Bloomberg video as manipulated media had the new policy been in effect, though it would not have removed the clip.A Twitter spokeswoman said Thursday that the company would have “likely” labeled the Bloomberg video as manipulated media had the new policy been in effect, though it would not have removed the clip.
For Ms. Warren, who led the assault on Mr. Bloomberg as she sought to preview the strengths she would bring to a fall debate against Mr. Trump, the debate resulted in her single best day of fund-raising by far. Her campaign announced Thursday afternoon that she had brought in more than $5 million since she walked onto the stage the previous night.For Ms. Warren, who led the assault on Mr. Bloomberg as she sought to preview the strengths she would bring to a fall debate against Mr. Trump, the debate resulted in her single best day of fund-raising by far. Her campaign announced Thursday afternoon that she had brought in more than $5 million since she walked onto the stage the previous night.
But it was not clear if her performance would help her significantly in the Nevada caucuses on Saturday: Roughly 75,000 Nevadans had already voted before the debate took place, a huge number compared with 2016, when about 84,000 Democrats took part in the caucuses.But it was not clear if her performance would help her significantly in the Nevada caucuses on Saturday: Roughly 75,000 Nevadans had already voted before the debate took place, a huge number compared with 2016, when about 84,000 Democrats took part in the caucuses.
If Ms. Warren was the dominant figure in the debate, Mr. Sanders was perhaps the luckiest: The front-runner in Nevada and national polls, he emerged largely unscathed from the debate as his moderate rivals focused on ripping into Mr. Bloomberg and one another. After Mr. Sanders’s victory in the New Hampshire primary and his tie in the Iowa caucuses, he is the best positioned in the field to keep building momentum heading into the Nevada caucuses, the South Carolina primary and the Super Tuesday contests in 16 states and territories three days later on March 3.If Ms. Warren was the dominant figure in the debate, Mr. Sanders was perhaps the luckiest: The front-runner in Nevada and national polls, he emerged largely unscathed from the debate as his moderate rivals focused on ripping into Mr. Bloomberg and one another. After Mr. Sanders’s victory in the New Hampshire primary and his tie in the Iowa caucuses, he is the best positioned in the field to keep building momentum heading into the Nevada caucuses, the South Carolina primary and the Super Tuesday contests in 16 states and territories three days later on March 3.
But by Thursday morning, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s campaign was signaling its own interest in lacing into Mr. Sanders. Mr. Biden’s Twitter account posted what the campaign said was footage of an interview with Mr. Sanders on the day of the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.But by Thursday morning, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s campaign was signaling its own interest in lacing into Mr. Sanders. Mr. Biden’s Twitter account posted what the campaign said was footage of an interview with Mr. Sanders on the day of the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
“You raise important issues,” Mr. Sanders is seen telling an anguished woman. “I don’t know that you hold a gun manufacturer responsible for what obviously a deranged person does.”“You raise important issues,” Mr. Sanders is seen telling an anguished woman. “I don’t know that you hold a gun manufacturer responsible for what obviously a deranged person does.”
“It’s time to hold gun manufacturers accountable,” the Biden campaign video concludes, leaning in on an issue that some supporters hoped for months that Mr. Biden would elevate. Mr. Biden was scheduled to deliver remarks on ending gun violence later Thursday in Las Vegas, the city where in 2017 the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history unfolded.“It’s time to hold gun manufacturers accountable,” the Biden campaign video concludes, leaning in on an issue that some supporters hoped for months that Mr. Biden would elevate. Mr. Biden was scheduled to deliver remarks on ending gun violence later Thursday in Las Vegas, the city where in 2017 the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history unfolded.
And Mr. Bloomberg, in his Utah remarks, seemed to signal that he would use the coming weeks to target Mr. Sanders more aggressively. Referencing the Vermont senator, Mr. Bloomberg argued that voters “don’t want hand waving and finger pointing — they want common-sense ideas that can become real policy.” And Mr. Bloomberg, in his Utah remarks, seemed to signal that he would use the coming weeks to target Mr. Sanders more aggressively. Referring to the Vermont senator, Mr. Bloomberg argued that voters “don’t want hand waving and finger pointing — they want common-sense ideas that can become real policy.”
After campaigning in Utah on Thursday, Mr. Bloomberg will continue on to other Super Tuesday states, where a combined 34 percent of all the delegates to the Democratic National Convention will be rewarded.After campaigning in Utah on Thursday, Mr. Bloomberg will continue on to other Super Tuesday states, where a combined 34 percent of all the delegates to the Democratic National Convention will be rewarded.
Reid J. Epstein and Katie Glueck contributed reporting from Las Vegas, and Davey Alba and Matt Stevens from New York.Reid J. Epstein and Katie Glueck contributed reporting from Las Vegas, and Davey Alba and Matt Stevens from New York.