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Democratic candidates bicker and shout over each other in chaotic debate – live Democratic candidates bicker and shout over each other in chaotic debate – live
(32 minutes later)
Opponents seek to slow Bernie Sanders’ momentum while billionaire Mike Bloomberg needs a strong showing at tenth debate Sanders and Bloomberg come under attack in latest debate before crucial Super Tuesday contests
The moderators’ last question is a bizarre two-parter: what is the biggest misconception about you, and what is your motto?
There have been some funny answers, such as when Amy Klobuchar said the biggest misconception about her was that she is “boring.”
But most candidates have used the odd question to deliver an unofficial closing statement.
Most notably, Joe Biden pledged to put an African American woman on the Supreme Court, prompting loud applause from the South Carolina audience.
Elizabeth Warren has remained focused on bringing down Mike Bloomberg — and has largely avoided bringing down frontrunner Bernie Sanders, whose support she needs to chip away at if her campaign is to remain viable. The question is: Why? So far, Bloomberg has served as a good foil to Warren, who has been equating him with the New York businessman currently occupying the White House. But strategically, it’s unlikely that she’ll sway moderates who support Bloomberg. It’s almost as if Warren is more worried about stopping the billionaire former mayor than stealing the progressive vote. It could be that Warren’s campaign doesn’t want to risk directly taking on Sanders again. The last time the two progressive senators clashed, progressives were left feeling betrayed and confused.
Earlier tonight, Mike Bloomberg criticized Elizabeth Warren after she called on him to release more employees from non-discloure agreements.
“With this senator, enough is never enough,” Bloomberg said.
Some of Warren’s fans celebrated the flippant comment over Twitter, and it has now been turned into campaign merch.
Responding to a question on Middle East policy, Bernie Sanders called Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu “a reactionary racist.”
The Vermont senator added that he would consider moving the US embassy in Israel back to Tel Aviv after Trump moved it to Jerusalem.
Sanders argued the United States’ Middle East policy should focus on “protecting the independence and security of Israel, but you cannot ignore the suffering of the Palestinian people.”
As the debate moderators questioned Democratic presidential candidates about the proper response to coronavirus, Trump weighed in over Twitter.
According to the White House pool report, the Democratic debate is similarly being played on the televisions on Air Force One as the president returns from India.
Here are the latest speaking times for each candidate via the New York Times:
The moderators questioned Bernie Sanders about his flattering comments on the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
Sanders once again said Castro supported some positive policies, such as literacy programs, which prompted boos from the audience.
“Really? Literacy programs are bad?” Sanders said.
Pete Buttigieg tried to pick up the criticism by saying Democrats would not win by spotlighting the “bright side of the Castro regime,” but the attack was largely lost in a flurry of crosstalk with Sanders.
Elizabeth Warren used a question on whether to allow Chinese firms to build parts of American technological infrastructute to bash Michael Bloomberg for not releasing his tax returns.
“We know that Mayor Bloomberg has been doing business with China for a long time, and he is the only one on this stage who has not released his taxes,” Warren said. “He plans to release them after Super Tuesday. It is not enough to say just trust me on this.”
Bloomberg responded by saying he would release his tax returns “in a couple of weeks,” but that would mean they are not available until after Super Tuesday.
Chaos is still one of the main themes of tonight’s Democratic debate, although the bickering has died down slightly since it first erupted earlier tonight.Chaos is still one of the main themes of tonight’s Democratic debate, although the bickering has died down slightly since it first erupted earlier tonight.
But candidates are still going over time on their answers, being abruptly cut off, and speaking over one another.But candidates are still going over time on their answers, being abruptly cut off, and speaking over one another.
Some former Obama administration officials are praising Joe Biden’s debate performance, but they have one suggestion: stop yelling.Some former Obama administration officials are praising Joe Biden’s debate performance, but they have one suggestion: stop yelling.
CBS News’ Gayle King has asked the night’s first question about the coronavirus after two days of stock market losses because of the health threat.CBS News’ Gayle King has asked the night’s first question about the coronavirus after two days of stock market losses because of the health threat.
King asked senator Amy Klobuchar whether she would close borders to Americans who have been exposed to the virus.King asked senator Amy Klobuchar whether she would close borders to Americans who have been exposed to the virus.
Klobuchar responded by saying that the focus needs to be on helping infected Americans. “I’m not gonna give you my website, I’m going to give the CDC’s site, it’s cdc.gov,” the Minnesota senator said.Klobuchar responded by saying that the focus needs to be on helping infected Americans. “I’m not gonna give you my website, I’m going to give the CDC’s site, it’s cdc.gov,” the Minnesota senator said.
Some viewers have spotted quite an overstatement from Joe Biden:Some viewers have spotted quite an overstatement from Joe Biden:
Mike Bloomberg was the first candidate to bring up the coronavirus after two days of steep stock market losses due to fears about the spreading health threat.Mike Bloomberg was the first candidate to bring up the coronavirus after two days of steep stock market losses due to fears about the spreading health threat.
But the CBS News moderators have not yet asked any questions about coronvirus, which has not escaped the attention of Twitter commentators.But the CBS News moderators have not yet asked any questions about coronvirus, which has not escaped the attention of Twitter commentators.
Meanwhile, the virus has now reached into the ranks of the US military:Meanwhile, the virus has now reached into the ranks of the US military:
Here’s where tonight’s Democratic debate stands so far:Here’s where tonight’s Democratic debate stands so far:
It’s looking like a good night for Bernie Sanders, who has often faded into the background as his opponents bicker and yell over each other. The Vermont senator’s frontrunner status currently appears safe.It’s looking like a good night for Bernie Sanders, who has often faded into the background as his opponents bicker and yell over each other. The Vermont senator’s frontrunner status currently appears safe.
The CBS News moderators have been criticized for failing to keep the debate on track as candidates try to seize the stage by launching into answers when they have not been addressed.The CBS News moderators have been criticized for failing to keep the debate on track as candidates try to seize the stage by launching into answers when they have not been addressed.
Elizabeth Warren once again criticized Mike Bloomberg for his reported history of making sexist comments, so the billionaire has not escaped scrutiny after his widely panned debate performance last week.Elizabeth Warren once again criticized Mike Bloomberg for his reported history of making sexist comments, so the billionaire has not escaped scrutiny after his widely panned debate performance last week.
The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
While the last debate was defined by the heavy blows the candidates were landing on each other, this one has so far been defined by its disorderly chaos.While the last debate was defined by the heavy blows the candidates were landing on each other, this one has so far been defined by its disorderly chaos.
Ironically, it’s also the first debate to be sponsored by Twitter which, as some have noted, it is increasingly starting to resemble.Ironically, it’s also the first debate to be sponsored by Twitter which, as some have noted, it is increasingly starting to resemble.
Asked about his anti-junk food campaign as mayor of New York, Mike Bloomberg said the policy may not work well for the entire country.
Bloomberg noted New York “isn’t like all other cities, otherwise you would have a Naked Cowboy in every city.”
The billionaire candidate’s obviously pre-written jokes are attracting some mockery on Twitter:
The moderators appear to be trying to take back control of the debate after candidates spent the first hour cutting each other off and yelling to deliver answers.
As Pete Buttigieg tried to interject himself into the discussion, CBS News’ Margaret Brennan told him to “honor the rules of the debate.”
Questions are being asked about how tickets were made available for tonight’s debate. Some reports suggest that certain tickets were priced between $1,750 - $3,200.
Some are saying that might account for the unexpected enthusiasm being shown for billionaire candidate Bloomberg ...
Mike Bloomberg tried to make a joke about his widely panned debate performance last week by suggesting he actually did a great job pushing back against his opponents.
But the joke was poorly timed and did not appear to land with the Charleston audience:
Did Mike Bloomberg fall prey to an unfortunate Freudian slip earlier, and say he bought 21 Democratic seats in 2018?
Donald Trump Jr has already jumped on the moment, but watch the clip and decide for yourself (it happens just towards the end):
There is a sense of desperation to tonight’s debate, as candidates repeatedly cut each other off to launch attacks at each other.
Here’s how much each candidate has spoken tonight, via the New York Times’ live tracker:
Once again turning their attention to frontrunner Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg criticized the frontrunner for not supporting an elimination of the Senate filibuster.
“How are we going to deliver a revolution if you won’t even support a rule change?” Buttigieg asked.
Eliminating the Senate filibuster would lower the threshold required to pass legislation, and the proposal has another high-profile supporter -- Donald Trump.
The debate moderators are coming in for a lot of heat tonight. Viewers’ criticisms have included the lack of control over the bickering candidates, and the fact no-one has yet been asked about the global panic over coronavirus.
Bernie Sanders was asked why he voted to protect gun manufacturers from legal liability, which other candidates have criticized him for.
Sanders initially tried to pivot to criticizing Joe Biden for his record on trade deals, which prompted boos from the Charleston audience.
“I have cast thousands of votes, including bad votes,” Sanders then said. “That was a bad vote.”