What Went Down At The Nevada Democratic Debate

Buttigieg did really hand this one right to Sanders, by saying it was easier to live the American Dream in Denmark than in the U.S. — which Democrats are very fond of pointing to as a model for democratic socialism.

Forty-five percent of Americans say they would vote for a socialist for president, while 53 percent say they would not, according to a late January survey conducted by Gallup. However, there are major differences by party: Seventy-six percent of Democrats, 45 percent of independents and 17 percent of Republicans say they would vote for a socialist for president.

Sanders slaps Bloomberg on the wrist for tying democratic socialism to communism: “That’s a cheap shot.” But it’s also a shot that Trump will take 10 times out of 10 in a possible general election against Sanders.

There’s Michael Bloomberg, casting Sanders as effectively a communist. Warren and Sanders are bringing it to a billionaire directly, as they wanted, And he is bringing it right back.

Bloomberg has kind of a good moment there when he says that this discussion is how Trump could win the election. He says America isn’t going to get rid of capitalism and switch to communism. That could resonate with voters of a certain generation.

There are certainly plenty of moderates in the Democratic Party, but Bloomberg seems to forget that he’s running for the Democratic nomination. There are ways to praise capitalism while also talking about its excesses, and basically all of the candidates except Bloomberg (and Sanders) have figured out how to do that.

Sanders has wanted to say that to Bloomberg (or someone like him) for so long. I am surprised Warren did not say it first.

I feel like this section on whether billionaires should exist has actually been fairly light on personal attacks on Bloomberg?

Really good point, Galen. That’s what was so weird about the Bloomberg and Deval Patrick entrances. Remember Kamala Harris and Cory Booker? There’s still Klobuchar and Biden.

Interesting that Buttigieg says that Denmark is where someone can live out the “American Dream,” considering they have socialized medicine. Wonder if Sanders or Warren will latch onto that.

“Should you have earned that much money” kind of gives away the game, in the question. The question is whether our policies allow too much accumulation of wealth.

Clare made this point earlier, but I truly don’t know how voters will respond to Bloomberg’s “I give a lot of money away” response to all these attacks on his wealth. It just seems … well, I don’t know.

One of the craziest things about what’s happening on this stage is that Bloomberg had the option to buy himself a nominee, maybe even a president, in one of the other moderates on stage. Instead, he chose to do it himself. Which, honestly, does not seem enjoyable.

Amelia, she’s hoping to make it to Wisconsin so she can make some cheese jokes at a Wisconsin debate.

I think the other billionaires might be pissed that Bloomberg is not more vigorously representing their interests on this stage — his response to Sanders about the tax code was sort of odd and flat.

Klobuchar has now gotten in a boxing joke in addition to her weird roulette reference earlier. Really milking the Vegas setting for all it’s worth.

“Should billionaires exist?” is a very 2020 Democrats question. Basically, a question written by AOC.

Bloomberg really sounds like someone who is (i) very, very rich and (ii) only recently became a Democrat and doesn’t really know how to talk to Democratic voters.

Weak, weak applause for Klobuchar’s assurance, “I believe in capitalism.”

Chris, I also think that Bloomberg provides a perfect foil for her to punch at.

Chris, I think the stakes were arguably higher for Warren in the New Hampshire debate, and she flopped.

I’m glad Bloomberg clarified he has always been against redlining!

This debate has me wondering: If Warren’s back had been against the wall sooner, would she have come out punching the way she has tonight?

The candidates are being asked about taxes for small businesses. Just over two-fifths of small-business owners said that their business will be better off if the Democratic presidential nominee wins the general election in November, while just over a half said the same if Trump wins the general election, according to a January Square/Gallup survey.

I think this is one of Biden’s best debates, but I also agree with the take that Bloomberg’s presence makes Biden look more energetic by comparison.

Bloomberg is wrong about who will suffer because of climate change. Studies suggest that poorer people will be more disproportionately affected by climate change.

Even if Warren doesn’t get a big benefit in the caucuses from this debate since so many Nevadans have already voted, maybe she’ll get an influx of funding like Klobuchar did in New Hampshire. More cash has got to be a welcome thing going into Super Tuesday!

Here was another headline idea, Sarah:

Bloomberg actually knows what he is talking about in terms of climate change. And he has actually done a lot of work on this issue.

I think it’s more like … “Bloomberg … 🗑🔥”

Micah, is it something like … Democrats Go After Bloomberg In Most Heated Debate Yet?!?

It feels like the headlines for this debate have already been written.

The Warren campaign is claiming some serious fundraising off Warren’s strong first half of the debate.

We’re not polling this debate with Ipsos as we usually do, so we won’t have as good a sense of how people thought the candidates did this time. But Warren had an uncharacteristically quiet debate last time, and her performance — usually highly rated in our poll — wasn’t viewed as favorably. She seems like she’s trying to avoid making that mistake again.

It’s also something Democrats seem to be worried about, Clare — although I’m not entirely sure how much an issue like banning fracking would outweigh other concerns for voters in Pennsylvania.

Climate change makes a less exciting debate topic for the Dems since they all agree on the severity of the issue and the need for action.

Klobuchar pointing out something that’s been kind of challenging in the Democratic debates so far — everyone agrees that climate change is a crisis and that there’s lots to be done to slow it down. So there’s not a lot of room for disagreement/debate. Klobuchar puts her own spin on it: “Look, here’s how I can actually create some consensus and get it done.”

Klobuchar just mentioned Nevada’s two senators, who are both women. Nevada actually elects women at historic levels. It is the first and only state in the nation to have women make up the majority of its state legislature.

Just a note on this environmental debate over fracking in the Democratic primary — this tweet, from the head of Trump’s rapid response team, says it all: They’re ready to scrap over the issue in Pennsylvania, a swing state:

Klobuchar shouts out Nevada’s two Democratic senators, Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen. She did that in the last debate too with New Hampshire’s two Democratic senators.

We’re already more than halfway through this debate. Is this the fastest debate so far?

Sanders was just asked about fracking. According to a October 2019 Pew Research Center survey, 38 percent of Americans support more hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” while 60 percent oppose it. Just 21 percent of Democrats and 57 percent of Republicans support fracking, compared to 31 and 58 percent support, respectively, in 2016.

I am hereby making it known that I told Clare and Galen before the debate began that it could be Warren’s turn for a big, breakout debate.

🤔

Bloomberg is very happy to talk about coal power plants and climate change. Hard to attack him specifically on this issue, too, I would think.

Bloomberg has dropped his philanthropic giving quite a lot in this debate. And obviously, those charitable donations have bought him a fair amount of good will (however grudging) among left-liberal causes. People need money to run these orgs, and Bloomberg is not at all shy about mentioning his donations.

Well, that answer on the environment was Bloomberg’s best answer so far. It’s a very low bar though.