7 Democrats debated in New Hampshire. Who helped themselves ahead of SC primary?
Seven Democratic presidential candidates were on the debate stage in New Hampshire on Friday night, all seeking to gain momentum ahead of the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday.
The candidates who qualified for the debate were former Vice President Joe Biden, entrepreneur Andrew Yang, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, businessman Tom Steyer, and U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
Even though the debate took place in the Granite State, a controversy in the Palmetto State involving state Sen. Dick Harpoolitian, D-Richland, being accused of a racially charged attack by members of the Legislative Black Caucus, led to a South Carolina-centric exchange between Biden and Steyer.
The State asked South Carolina political observers to give their analysis of Friday’s debate and who won, who lost, and who appealed to southern voters. Here’s what College of Charleston political scientist Gibbs Knotts, Columbia City Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine, former first vice chair of the S.C. Democratic Party Kaye Koonce, and former S.C. Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Fowler thought of Friday’s debate.
Who won the debate and why?
Fowler: Amy Klobuchar was the winner, in part because she repeatedly and convincingly stressed her experience and her electability over Donald Trump. Her closing statement was the strongest on the stage. Mayor Buttigieg also had a good night. He reminded us again and again of the need to look toward the future instead of focusing on what has happened before.
Isaac Devine: (It was) between Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren. I thought Warren had a good night but Klobuchar had some great moments.
Knotts: Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar both had really good nights, but I would give the edge to Klobuchar. Klobuchar had a strong and consistent performance and drew important contrasts between her vision and the positions of her rivals. She was also funny, saying that President Donald Trump has a record of blaming other people for his failures including the Prime Minister of Canada for cutting him out of the Canadian version of Home Alone 2.
Koonce: Sen. Klobuchar won. She gave several strong answers in which she pointedly challenged other candidates yet she still displayed a sense of humor and empathy. She also exhibited a command of the issues and referenced her own experience in a relatable and professional manner.
What was the best moment of the debate and why?
Fowler: The best moment was when Pete Buttigieg very eloquently stood up for Hunter Biden and against Donald Trump’s attacks on the Biden family. He did this in the face of attacks on himself from many of the other candidates, including Biden, due to the mayor’s current front-runner status.
Isaac Devine: Joe Biden recognizing Lt. Col. Vindman and mentioning he should have received the medal of honor and not Rush Limbaugh. (He) then asked for a standing ovation. Why? Because it gave everyone something to unite around that makes us all proud to be Americans. Also, the conversation on systemic racism. There are so many issues in this country that we cannot effectively address without talking about racism. This conversation highlighted some real differences in the candidates that I think is really important especially coming into South Carolina.
Also, Klobuchar’s comment: “We have a newcomer in the White House and look where it got us.”
Knotts: One of Klobuchar’s best moments was when she criticized Pete Buttigieg’s experience by saying, “We have a newcomer in the White House and look where that got us.” This was a key moment because it drew a sharp contrast between her 13 years in the U.S. Senate and Buttigieg’s youth and lack of experience.
Koonce: I believe Sen. Klobuchar’s closing statement, particularly her inclusion of a story about FDR, her family and her ability to express empathy for middle class and struggling Americans, will resonate with the Democratic voters.
What was the worst moment of the debate and why?
Fowler: Vice President Biden and Tom Steyer created one of the worst moments when they argued over a spat between their South Carolina supporters — a presidential debate stage is no place to bring up a local dispute among people who are insignificant to the rest of the country. A second noticeably bad moment was Bernie Sanders’ refusal to even discuss the cost of his healthcare plan, a plan that is the centerpiece of his campaign.
Isaac Devine: I don’t really have a worst moment. It just felt slow start and kind of boring.
Knotts: Joe Biden had a rough night. He rambled and spent a good portion of the night yelling. During his first answer he said, “I took a hit in Iowa, and I’ll probably take a hit here.” He might have been trying to lower expectations. However, predicting that he would not do well in New Hampshire, just three days before the state’s primary, was not a good political strategy.
Koonce: Sen. Sanders’ negative comments about New Hampshire senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan’s support of USMCA (NAFTA update) while in their home state and with them in the front row of the debate while he is trying to win the election in their state was cringe-worthy and seemed especially tone deaf and unwise.
Who, if anyone, did the best job of appealing to South Carolina voters?
Fowler: Tom Steyer appeared determined from the start to bring South Carolina into the debate, because he repeatedly talked about diversity. He brought the rest of the field into a prolonged and valuable discussion of race and the issues that affect African Americans, who will be a majority of the primary voters here.
Isaac Devine: I think the way Warren continues to tie her issues together will speak to S.C. voters especially considering the large African American population. Not sure anything in the debate turned Biden voters away from him but for undecided voters I think they would have heard some interesting things that may speak to them as it relates to race and equity.
Knotts: Tom Steyer worked hard to appeal to South Carolina voters. He talked about the importance of reparations to African Americans and criticized S.C. State Sen. Dick Hartpootlian for comments he made about one of his key supporters, S.C. State Representative and Black Caucus Chairman Jerry Govan.
Koonce: I didn’t think anyone did particularly well in appealing specifically to South Carolinians. However, the exchange between Tom Steyer and Vice President Biden about comments by one of the vice president’s supporters about one of Steyer’s supporters seemed to reflect negatively on both of them.
