What Went Down In The Fifth Democratic Debate

But will one good debate be enough to actually change things for Klobuchar or Booker, Nate? Booker, for instance, is in real danger of missing the December debate. Do you think tonight’s performance will be enough for him to make the stage in December? He still needs four polls.

Totally agree, Perry. If you go back and read some retrospectives of Booker’s time as mayor, it’s striking how similar they are to accounts of Buttigieg’s mayorship. Both faced criticism for their handling of racial issues and for prioritizing development in their downtown areas, for example.

Booker emphasizes bringing the country together and his mayoral experience. My take has always been that Booker in 2008 is basically Buttigieg now. And weirdly, Booker’s experience is probably hurting him in this race because he is less fresh than other candidates.