We talked to nine presidential candidates. Here’s what they said — and what we think
The hay is in the barn.
After a nearly six-month journey, The State has concluded its series of Opinion page interviews with candidates running in our state’s Feb. 29 Democratic Party presidential primary.
We spoke to the following nine candidates (in order):
▪ Former U.S. housing secretary Julian Castro.
▪ Tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang.
▪ Longtime California businessman Tom Steyer.
▪ U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (New Jersey).
▪ Former Vice President Joe Biden.
▪ Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
▪ Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.
▪ U.S Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts).
▪ U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota).
Throughout the several-month process we tried repeatedly to schedule an interview with another candidate, U.S Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. In fact, we had direct contact — on multiple occasions — with various officials in Sanders’ South Carolina and national campaigns.
On the state level we talked with South Carolina campaign spokesman Michael Wukela and state Reps. Terry Alexander and Justin Bamberg, two of Sanders’ high-profile supporters.
On the national level we had ongoing conversations with Marvin Hayes (a senior adviser with the Sanders campaign) and Sarah Ford (the Sanders campaign’s deputy communications director).
None of these efforts were successful in lining up a candidate interview with Sanders.
So here’s the bottom line: the only reason we didn’t interview Bernie Sanders is because the Sanders campaign never made it possible for us to interview Bernie Sanders.
Period.
We also had repeated contact with U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s campaign about scheduling an interview with the presidential candidate, but we ultimately had no luck in doing so.
Here, then, is our roundup on the nine candidates who did take time to meet with us:
Julian Castro
How we talked with him: Castro visited The State for a sit-down interview.
Our assessment: An impressive progressive whose candidacy was far shorter than it deserved to be.
Notable quote: “I don’t want to make America ‘anything’ again. I want to make us better than we’ve ever been in the years ahead.”
Andrew Yang
How we talked with him: Yang visited The State for a sit-down interview.
Our assessment: A personable candidate who dished out plenty of bold ideas — primarily his $12,000 annual “Freedom Dividend” for every American adult — and great soundbites.
Notable quote: “I want to put more buying power into our people’s hands, and start giving Americans this unfamiliar feeling of having the government do something that actually improves your life.”
Tom Steyer
How we interviewed him: Steyer visited The State for a sit-down interview.
Our assessment: Even Steyer’s biggest skeptics — and there are plenty when it comes to the billionaire’s candidacy — must concede that he’s an earnest candidate with a solid record of activism.
Notable quote: “If you’re going to vote for me, you’re going to vote for someone who has been taking on ... the establishment. That’s who I am.”
Cory Booker
How we interviewed him: Booker visited The State for a sit-down interview.
Our assessment: While his candidacy was short-lived, Booker should be admired for seeking to run a positive campaign focused more on empowering voters than bashing President Donald Trump.
Notable quote: “My whole (campaign) has not been about tearing people down; it’s been about lifting up all folks and inspiring them.”
Joe Biden
How we interviewed him: Biden visited The State for a sit-down interview.
Our assessment: Energetic, engaged and at times fiery, Biden displayed the swagger of a candidate who is savoring the prospect of facing Trump in a general election.
Notable quote: “Why do you think Donald Trump’s campaign has already spent over $12 million going after me? He doesn’t want to run against me at all. This guy doesn’t want to run against me no more than he wants to fly. So I can hardly wait to debate Donald Trump.”
Pete Buttigieg
How we interviewed him: Buttigieg visited The State for a sit-down interview.
Our assessment: A cool-headed candidate who clearly believes his message of unity and pragmatism will strike a deep chord with Americans weary of conflict.
Notable quote: “This is a moment when we should not have to choose between winning and governing, between our head and our heart, between boldness and unity. We can have all of those things, and that’s what I’m offering as a (presidential candidate).”
Deval Patrick
How we interviewed him: Patrick visited The State for a sit-down interview.
Our assessment: With his thoughtful approach and executive experience as a two-term governor, Patrick deserves to be under consideration for a Cabinet position if a Democrat does win in November.
Notable quote: “It’s important for us to win, but it’s equally important for us to deliver once we win.”
Elizabeth Warren
How we interviewed her: Warren held a video-conference interview with The State.
Our assessment: In a great interview, Warren offered an unapologetic and robust defense of her campaign’s direction. In short, Warren has just begun to fight.
Notable quote: “I’ve got the best chance to beat Donald Trump. But more importantly I’ve got the best chance to help us build an America that’s not just for a handful at the top, but for everyone.”
Amy Klobuchar
How we interviewed her: Klobuchar held a conference-call interview with The State.
Our assessment: A powerhouse of substance. During a lively interview that covered topics ranging from rural issues and health care to infrastructure and America’s partisan divide, Klobuchar spoke with passion and conviction about the need for Democrats to choose a nominee who can deliver actual results if elected.
Notable quotes: “If you are tired of the noise and nonsense, you have a home with me. If you are tired of the extremes, you have a home with me.”
“The difference between a plan and a pipe dream is that a plan is something that you can actually (accomplish). A plan is something you can pay for.”
This story was originally published February 21, 2020 at 10:49 AM.