Live Coverage Of The First Democratic Debate

“I go around the country and talk to all sorts of people” Sanders said. He’s certainly been spending time in the primary states of Iowa and the Vermont-adjoining New Hampshire, but many of the iconic Sanders crowds have actually been in large, liberal bastions — places like Austin, Texas; Los Angeles; and Portland (both of ‘em!). This is not just because that’s where the Sanders fans already are — it’s a buzz-building strategy. And with Sanders raising much of his money online, geography may matter less to him in these early stages. “The news of large crowds manages to make its way to people, particularly in Iowa and New Hampshire,” Sanders adviser Tad Devine told Politico. “It’s demonstrating that the message Bernie is delivering is connecting with a large audience.” And as Politico points out, that’s a strategy that Obama also employed as he was building momentum in 2007.

Yes, it’s a crude measure of candidate quality. But watching Lincoln Chafee struggle tonight — a man who has been elected both governor and senator in Rhode Island — is a reminder that it’s much easier to be elected in a little state than a big one. In fact, the average Democrat on stage tonight is from a state with just 12 electoral votes. (That average will fall to 11 if Joe Biden enters the race later.) By contrast, the average Republican this year hails from states worth 19 or 21 electoral votes on average, depending on whether you count Carly Fiorina as being from Virginia (where she currently makes her residence) or California (where she ran for senate in 2010).

David Leonhardt asks on Twitter: Not sure if it’s considered an effective move or not, but Clinton is the only candidate who has used the word “plan” in tonight’s debate:

• “I have a five-point economic plan because this inequality challenge we face … it hasn’t been this bad since the 1920s.”
• “The plan that I put forward would empower regulators to break up big banks if we thought they posed a risk.”
• “My plan would have the potential of actually sending the executives to jail.”
• “But I know if we don’t come in with a very tough and comprehensive approach like the plan I’m recommending, we’re going to be behind instead of ahead in the next crisis to be.”
• “Well, let me address college affordability because I have a plan that I think will really zero in on what the problems are.”
• “My plan would enable anyone to go to a public college or university twice free.”