What Went Down At The First Biden vs. Sanders Debate

As others have said, it would have taken a lot to shift the trajectory of the race. I don’t think that happened. But it was striking to hear the closing messages from the candidates about the coronavirus. Sanders said that the coronavirus crisis is a call to dramatically shift the system, a “time to ask how we got to where we are” and make broader changes. Biden instead went personal — saying he can’t imagine how fearful people must be. It’s a pretty good encapsulation of the differences between the two candidates. And obviously, one of those styles/strategies seems to have won over Democratic voters this year.

This was by far the best debate because it involved just two candidates and they disagree on a lot. They represent the two dominant ways of thinking within in the Democratic Party. I wish this kind of debate had happened when the results of the primary weren’t basically already decided and many people will feel uncomfortable heading out to vote.

I don’t know that Sanders had much of a shot in the primary anyway, barring the coronavirus having extremely unpredictable effects. And tonight, which was maybe Sanders’s last/best opportunity for a miracle comeback, I think instead Biden had one of his stronger debates of the cycle. Some people will question his aggression toward Sanders, but it seems to keep Biden focused and Sanders a bit off-balance.