That said, this debate was more substantive than the earlier debates. The biggest headline is that Warren took a lot of flak, as befits her status as the new front-runner. As for how she did, the news is mixed. Overall she did not do great. But there might be a silver lining in this-the folks who did best at attacking her, are pretty far back in the polls.
As with the previous debates, I'll give a tactical and a strategic grade for each candidate. And in day or two I will update my rankings of the candidates.
WINNERS:
1. Amy Klobuchar Tactical: A Strategic: A
If you read this blog regularly-and there are at least six of you who do, then you know Klobuchar is my preferred candidate. Tonight she was the only person who mentioned Trump's betrayal of the Kurds in the first hour of the debate. She also did a good job of pointing out the weaknesses of Warren's policies and campaign. She needed a big night and she really should get a bounce from it. I don't think it will be enough to get her near the top but I hope it's enough to get her in the next debate.
2. Pete Buttigieg Tactical: A- Strategic A
Solid on all points. An adult and a skilled debater. I am beginning to think he might be ready for this job after all. (And I never thought I would say that.)
3. Bernie Sanders Tactical: A- Strategic: A-
Bernie had one important job tonight-look healthy. He did that. And he wasn't bad on the substance, given how played out his shtick is. No harm done to him tonight and he might rebound from a recent dip.
4. Cory Booker Tactical: B+ Strategic: A-
Cory usually plays the voice of reason and he did again tonight. But he never seems to get traction after his strong performances, in part because he usually says something annoying. Tonight he brought up his veganism three times. That is four times too many.
5 (TIE) Julian Castro and Beto O'Rourke Tactical: B+ Strategic: B+
They were fine. But I don't see either of them rocketing up the ranks anytime soon.
7. Andrew Yang Tactical: B Strategic: B
He's not a serious candidate, so I don't grade him based on whether he's going to be president. But he made some good points and probably will raise some more money for his future podcast and multi-level marketing empire.
8. Joe Biden Tactical: B Strategic: C
Joe avoided any huge gaffes, which counts for something but it's impossible to watch him speak for even one minute without thinking about his age. He gets visibly confused in ways that make me uncomfortable. I don't know if there is a solution to that.
9. Elizabeth Warren Tactical: C+ Strategic: B-
She looked evasive and even duplicitous in her half-assed explanation/defense of Medicare for All plan.
10. Kamala Harris Tactical: B- Strategic: C-
She went for some very easy applause line on reproductive choice by saying things that literally everyone on the stage agrees with. But then she really went hard at Elizabeth Warren on the silliest issue possible-banning Donald Trump from Twitter. That diminishes her already fading candidacy.
11. Tom Steyer: Tactical: C Strategic: C
The moderators were correct to give him the bare minimum of attention and he did his best to make them not regret that decision. Some of his answers were delivered competently. He's obviously been rehearsing for this moment. He had a neat thing of starting every answer with a compliment of someone other candidate. But this is the saddest middle age crisis I've ever been forced to watch on television. If he wanted to do good with his fortune, he has a ton of options. This verkhakta campaign ain't one.
12. Tulsi Gabbard Tactical: Incomplete Strategic: Incomplete
She is loathsome. But I can't grade her fairly because I'm not sure what her objective is. Maybe she wants to be the presidential nominee of the Democratic party. Maybe she wants to build some kind of political movement based on.....God knows what. But she did nothing to dispel rumors/conspiracy thinking that she intends to run as an independent or third party candidate.
I want to state that I was and am firmly opposed to our military invasion of Iraq. But for her to act like Trump's betrayal of the Kurds was a price worth paying for bringing 1,000 soldiers home* is despicable.
*They are not coming home yet. They are going to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, because the Saudi government is renting them from a man who thinks our military is a revenue center and our soldiers are Hessians.
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