On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, the 20 Democratic candidates squared off for two nights of debates hosted by CNN in Detroit. Ten candidates participated in each event.
The first night saw tensions erupt between moderate and progressive candidates. Former Maryland Congressman John Delaney decried the “fairy tale economics” of more progressive candidates like Elizabeth Warren, who shot back, “I don’t know why anyone goes to the trouble to run for president to talk about what we can’t do and what we won’t fight for.”
Bernie Sanders found himself sparring with Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan, who accused the Vermont senator of not knowing whether union members would have better coverage under Medicare for All. In what would become a viral moment, Sanders fired back, “I wrote the damn bill!” Later, Ryan chastised Sanders for his volume, saying, “You don’t have to yell.”
On the second night, nearly all of those on stage, including Senators Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand and former Housing Secretary Julián Castro launched criticism at Joe Biden. During his closing statement, Biden flubbed his website announcement, asking viewers to “go to Joe 30330.” Someone quickly scooped up Joe30330.com, which now redirects to joshforamerica.com, a website that notes, “we’re not affiliated with any presidential campaign. We’re just having some good fun (maybe a little bit at the expense of Joe) :).”
Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard criticized Harris, considered a winner of the first Democratic debate, for her record as a prosecutor, saying that Harris “put over 1,500 people in jail for marijuana violations then laughed about it when she was asked if she ever smoked marijuana.” Harris responded that she was proud of her work and of using her power “to reform a system that is badly in need of reform.”
Was the Pioneer Valley listening? This week, the Gazette spoke to people in downtown Northampton who had a lot to say about the candidates, but for the most part admitted to not watching the debates.