What Went Down In The Fourth Democratic Debate

Bernie Sanders just spoke about prescription drug costs. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll from February, 63 percent of Americans think there is not enough government regulation limiting the price of prescription drugs. Just 10 percent think there is too much regulation and 22 percent think there is the right amount. A majority of Americans also thought there wasn’t enough government regulation on prescription drug prices when the Kaiser Family Foundation previously asked the question in 2008 and 2015.

I argued in a chat earlier today that the debates haven’t really mattered so far. I don’t know how much this debate will change anything, but at least we are finding out if Democrats’ newly minted front-runner (co-front-runner?) can hold her own when she is the focus of criticism.

Klobuchar is focusing on smaller health care issues like reducing pharmaceutical prices. It’s a less sweeping issue than revamping the health care system through Medicare for All, but voters do care a lot about pocketbook health care issues. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that majorities of Americans from all parties say lowering prescription drug prices is an important issue for Congress to address.