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Democratic candidates bicker and shout over each other in chaotic debate – live Bernie Sanders defends 'radical' ideas in debate mired by bickering – live
(31 minutes later)
Sanders and Bloomberg come under attack in latest debate before crucial Super Tuesday contestsSanders and Bloomberg come under attack in latest debate before crucial Super Tuesday contests
Viewers may have noticed the boisterous cheers and applause for Mike Bloomberg. The debate audience clapped enthusiastically when Bloomberg mentioned a gun control group he founded. They also booed Bernie Sanders — Bloomberg’s biggest competition.
The display prompted some viewers to wonder if the billionaire candidate had stacked the audience. After all, the Bloomberg has paid Instagram influencers to promote his candidacy and paid people to text their friends to drum up support.
But the Democratic National Committee’s communications director clarified that each candidate is allocated the same number of tickets.
“No one is packing the debate hall,” said the DNC’s Xochitl Hinojosa. “This is how conspiracy theories get started.”
But Bloomberg was able to boost his message outside the debate hall: by running campaign ads during the commercial breaks.
In a post-debate interview, Bernie Sanders repeated his final debate answer, arguing his policy proposals are not radical because other countries have already adopted them.
“The truth is, nothing I am saying is radical,” Sanders said.
The Vermont Senator also once again stood by his flattering comments on Fidel Castro’s literacy programs, while condemning the “authoritarian” leader’s regime.
But Sanders’ comments have attracted some criticism from fellow Democrats, including this freshman House member who was born in Poland during the Cold War:
Joe Biden used his final debate answer to pledge that he would nominate an African American woman to the Supreme Court.
The unexpected promise -- which is likely meant to win over voters before Saturday’s South Carolina primary, where more than half of the 2016 electorate was African American -- was quickly praised over Twitter:
But far-right commentator Ann Coulter seized on Biden’s promise to try to dissuade white male Democrats from supporting the former vice president:
Here’s how some viewers have been responding to tonight’s debate on Twitter, starting with Andrew Yang, who until recently was on the stage. Like many, he wasn’t happy with CBS’ moderation:
Republicans are celebrating the chaotic nature of tonight’s debate, which featured many moments of Democratic candidates yelling over each other to be heard.
The Trump campaign called the debate a “hot mess,” and the chairwoman of the Republican National Commitee said the night proved none of the candidates deserve to be president.
The 10th Democratic debate has concluded, but the blog will have more updates and analysis coming up, so stay tuned.
Bernie Sanders’ supporters praised his final answer on the biggest misconception about himself.
The Vermont senator, who has been criticized by some of his opponents for being too far left for the Democratic Party, pushed back against the notion that his ideas are “radical.”
Sanders said his proposals exist “in one form or another” all around the world.
The moderators’ last question is a bizarre two-parter: what is the biggest misconception about you, and what is your motto?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.”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.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.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.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.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.“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.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.”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.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.”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.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.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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
Meanwhile, the virus has now reached into the ranks of the US military:
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.
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.
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.
Ironically, it’s also the first debate to be sponsored by Twitter which, as some have noted, it is increasingly starting to resemble.