It’s the second night of the second round of the Democratic presidential primary debates. Or Debate 22. Thanks to the strangely sorted results of a random draw, the first night of the debate generated a lineup that showed an astounding lack of diversity, but Wednesday evening will make up for that with a selection that features current front-runner Joe Biden facing off with Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Julián Castro, Michael Bennet, Kirsten Gillibrand, Tulsi Gabbard, Jay Inslee, Andrew Yang, and Bill de Blasio.
Unlike Tuesday, when the leading candidates were progressive and CNN spent its time arranging attacks for moderates on the flanks, the most centrist position on the stage Wednesday night is likely the one center stage, in the form of Biden. But don’t expect CNN to set Gillibrand or Inslee up to attack Biden on the Green New Deal … because Biden supports the Green New Deal. And don’t expect it to round up Gabbard and de Blasio to hit Biden on taxes or labor practices. Instead, expect CNN to hand statements that Biden has made to Harris and Booker, who will be flanking Biden on stage, in hopes that they can generate the appearance of a race-based division within the Democratic Party.
Harris had a good showing in the first round of the debate, and her statements on the issue of school desegregation were both moving and important. Biden came off poorly on the issue and handled what he perceived as attacks even more poorly. His poll numbers have only started to recover from that first showing in the last couple of weeks. It’s not that Biden doesn’t need to be challenged on these points (or on women’s rights). It’s that Harris, Booker, and others don’t need CNN to frame the issues with the kind of “go get ‘em” questions its moderators used to encourage strife on Tuesday. It’s a formula that generates the heat the network wants at the expense of light. And Kamala Harris and Cory Booker are quite capable of highlighting these issues in a way that’s much more illuminating than anything cooked up by Jake Tapper.
Okay, let’s get going …
Thursday, Aug 1, 2019 · 12:27:40 AM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Joe Biden seems much more prepared to be on stage this time around. Says he knows CNN is looking for some engagement, and expects “they will get it.” Good line in defending diversity.
Good speech from Joe, stronger than any moment for him in debate one.
Thursday, Aug 1, 2019 · 12:29:40 AM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
And CNN starts off by trying to get Harris to attack Biden over healthcare—what a shock. Expect this form of question “Sen Harris, Vice President Biden said XX” to come up a lot tonight. Harris lays out a sketch of her plan, but is cut off before she can get to details.
Thursday, Aug 1, 2019 · 12:31:43 AM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Biden is locked for combat here. Harris made sure to deflect the question and didn’t take the bait, but Biden opens on Harris in any case. As it bounces back to Harris, the best thing that we’re getting from Harris is some details of her plan. Biden making some statements about Harris’ plan — and honestly, I don’t know if they’re accurate — but CNN is definitely digging this ping-pong match.
Thursday, Aug 1, 2019 · 12:36:40 AM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Harris claims Obama cred by saying that Kathlees Sebilius has endorsed her plan, attacks Biden’s plan as not fixing the issues that currently exist.
Biden immediately bounces back, gets a bit into the weeds in describing his plan for being cut off, but is still being much more forceful than last time.
Thursday, Aug 1, 2019 · 12:40:21 AM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gabbard is channeling Williamson’s speech for last night in decribing the “sick care” system, but actually scores points by hitting Sebilius. Harris defends he plan, pivots to Biden, goes at his plan hard as leaving “10 million people uncovered.”
Biden says his plan will cover everyone. Gets into handling pharma prices.