That’s A Wrap!
As has been said many times on this live blog -- this was the last debate before the voting starts in Iowa. But we at FiveThirtyEight aren’t entirely sure what to make of tonight’s debate. As you can see from the headlines we’ve come up with as a group, we’re not sure it moved the needle all that much heading into the caucuses. Although editor-in-chief Nate Silver did give us his thoughts below on three ways to think of tonight’s performance: 1) It wasn’t a game-changer. 2) Maybe Warren won? 3) Maybe Biden won?
So scroll down to check that out and to relive this blog in all its chronological glory. We’ll be back tomorrow with our post-debate poll with Ipsos that measures how the debate changed voters’ views of the race.
Here are the live blog team’s takes on tonight’s events in newspaper-y headline format:
Clare: A Largely Dull Debate To Kick Off 2020
Geoffrey: Few Debates Have Really Moved The Polls And It's Hard To Know If This One Did Either
Nathaniel: Candidates Give More Of The Same In 7th Debate — But How Will Those Just Tuning In Now React?
Amelia: Candidates Tangle Briefly Over Sexism In An Otherwise Snoozy Debate
Perry: Warren Defends Her Electability And That Of Female Candidates -- Signaling Real Tension With Sanders
Meena: It's Going To Be A Long Year