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Democratic Debate Live Updates: If Elected, What Would Candidates Do on Day 1? Democratic Debate Live Updates: If Elected, What Would Candidates Do on Day 1?
(32 minutes later)
The candidates on stage tonight: Bill de Blasio, Tim Ryan, Julián Castro, Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, Beto O’Rourke, Amy Klobuchar, Tulsi Gabbard, Jay Inslee and John Delaney.The candidates on stage tonight: Bill de Blasio, Tim Ryan, Julián Castro, Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, Beto O’Rourke, Amy Klobuchar, Tulsi Gabbard, Jay Inslee and John Delaney.
Savannah Guthrie of NBC asked, “You have many plans, free college, free child care, government health care, cancellation of student debt, new taxes, new regulations, the break up of major corporations. Seventy-one percent of Americans say the economy is doing well, including 60 percent of Democrats. What do you say to those who worry this significant change could be risky to the economy?”Savannah Guthrie of NBC asked, “You have many plans, free college, free child care, government health care, cancellation of student debt, new taxes, new regulations, the break up of major corporations. Seventy-one percent of Americans say the economy is doing well, including 60 percent of Democrats. What do you say to those who worry this significant change could be risky to the economy?”
Ms. Warren replied that the economy is “doing great” for a “thinner and thinner slice at the top,” from “giant oil companies” to “people who want to invest in private prisons. Just not for African-Americans and LatinX whose families are torn apart, lives destroyed, communities ruined.”Ms. Warren replied that the economy is “doing great” for a “thinner and thinner slice at the top,” from “giant oil companies” to “people who want to invest in private prisons. Just not for African-Americans and LatinX whose families are torn apart, lives destroyed, communities ruined.”
“We need to make structural change in our government, in our economy and in our country,” Ms. Warren said.“We need to make structural change in our government, in our economy and in our country,” Ms. Warren said.
Ms. Klobuchar, offered a chance to critique Ms. Warren’s plans, offered a relatively gentle jab at the plans of liberal candidates like Ms. Warren to make college tuition-free.Ms. Klobuchar, offered a chance to critique Ms. Warren’s plans, offered a relatively gentle jab at the plans of liberal candidates like Ms. Warren to make college tuition-free.
“I do get concerned about paying for college for rich kids. I do,” Ms. Klobuchar said. But then she pivoted to attack President Trump.“I do get concerned about paying for college for rich kids. I do,” Ms. Klobuchar said. But then she pivoted to attack President Trump.
“Donald Trump just sits in the White House and gloats about what’s going on” in the economy she said.“Donald Trump just sits in the White House and gloats about what’s going on” in the economy she said.
Mr. Booker later got a question about tech companies and some of Ms. Warren’s rhetoric about breaking them up. Mr. Booker also took a pass at directly disagreeing with Ms. Warren.Mr. Booker later got a question about tech companies and some of Ms. Warren’s rhetoric about breaking them up. Mr. Booker also took a pass at directly disagreeing with Ms. Warren.
The early stages of this debate: Very civil.The early stages of this debate: Very civil.
After Mr. Inslee highlighted his record of defending abortion rights as governor, Ms. Klobuchar shot back, “I just want to say that there are three women up here who have fought pretty hard for women’s right to choose.”After Mr. Inslee highlighted his record of defending abortion rights as governor, Ms. Klobuchar shot back, “I just want to say that there are three women up here who have fought pretty hard for women’s right to choose.”
She was joined onstage by Ms. Warren and Ms. Gabbard. Three more women candidates will appear onstage Thursday: Ms. Harris, Ms. Gillibrand and Ms. Williamson.She was joined onstage by Ms. Warren and Ms. Gabbard. Three more women candidates will appear onstage Thursday: Ms. Harris, Ms. Gillibrand and Ms. Williamson.
Democrat after Democrat chimed in to flash their bona fides on abortion, one of the most hot button issues in the nation.Democrat after Democrat chimed in to flash their bona fides on abortion, one of the most hot button issues in the nation.
“I don’t believe only in reproductive freedom, i believe in reproductive justice,” Mr. Castro said to relatively loud applause. He went on, “What that means is that just because a woman — or let’s not forget someone in the transcommunity, a transfemale is poor, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have the right to exercise that right to choose.” “I don’t believe only in reproductive freedom, I believe in reproductive justice,” Mr. Castro said to relatively loud applause. He went on, “What that means is that just because a woman — or let’s not forget someone in the transcommunity, a transfemale is poor, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have the right to exercise that right to choose.”
Ms. Warren added on, “It’s not enough for us to expect the courts to protect us.” She called to make Roe v. Wade a “federal law” as “state after state undermined Roe.”Ms. Warren added on, “It’s not enough for us to expect the courts to protect us.” She called to make Roe v. Wade a “federal law” as “state after state undermined Roe.”
Mr. Booker, who faced fierce backlash from some of his constituents when he ultimately supported the Iran nuclear deal during the Obama administration, was the only one onstage not to raise his hand when the candidates were asked who would sign on to the 2015 nuclear deal as originally negotiated.
Mr. Trump pulled out of that deal and recently tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated.
“We need to renegotiate and get back into the deal, but I’m not going to have a primary platform to say unilaterally I’m going to rejoin that deal,” Mr. Booker said.
Ms. Klobuchar has also been critical of the deal. She called it “imperfect but it was a good deal for that moment.”
She lamented that under Mr. Trump, the country is “one tweet away from going to war.”
Ms. Klobuchar said she didn’t think that the country “should conduct foreign policy in our bathrobe at 5 a.m.”
Ms. Gabbard, a veteran who is also known for her controversial overtures toward the Syrian government which has been accused of major human rights violations, was adamant in her position: “No war with Iran.”
“This president and his chicken hawk cabinet have led us to the brink of war with Iran,” she said. She called for a de-escalation of tensions and said that “Trump needs to get back in the Iran nuclear deal.”
NBC producers suffered an audio problem that briefly interrupted the proceedings, leaving candidates confused and viewers at home watching an unexpected set of advertisements.
Chuck Todd, who came on to co-moderate the debate’s second hour, told the audience that the microphones of the previous moderators — Savannah Guthrie, Lester Holt, and Jose Diaz-Balart — were still live, scrambling the audio feed.
It was a brief interruption but enough to merit the attention of one TV-savvy viewer: President Trump, who was monitoring from his trip to Japan on Air Force One.
“.@NBCNews and @MSNBC should be ashamed of themselves for having such a horrible technical breakdown in the middle of the debate,” the president wrote, using the problem as an excuse to repeat one of his usual attacks on the network. “Truly unprofessional and only worthy of a FAKE NEWS Organization, which they are!”
The two Texans on stage, Mr. Castro and Mr. O’Rourke, engaged in one of the most heated and detailed exchanges of the debate as they argued over immigration policy, as Mr. Castro pressed Mr. O’Rourke to go further, invoking specific code sections of immigration law that should be repealed.
Mr. O’Rourke, who represented the border city of El Paso in Congress, began his answer in Spanish — the second time he has done so. But as he transitioned to English, Mr. Castro sought to butt in, pressing him to endorse repealing a human trafficking provision currently used to justify actions at the border.
Mr. O’Rourke declined to embrace what Mr. Castro was calling for, promising a comprehensive overhaul. As part of that, he said, “We would not detain any families, in fact fleeing the deadliest countries on the face of the planet today.”
Some Democrats have hoped either Mr. O’Rourke or Mr. Castro would run for Senate instead of president, and the exchange was a reminder of the sub-primaries within the broader primary.
In his first question of the debate directed at him, Mr. O’Rourke chose to answer in two languages: English and Spanish.In his first question of the debate directed at him, Mr. O’Rourke chose to answer in two languages: English and Spanish.
But in neither language did Mr. O’Rourke answer the specific question — whether he would support the highest tax rate being 70 percent, even as Ms. Guthrie pushed to follow up. He called for a “fair” tax code and raising corporate tax rates.But in neither language did Mr. O’Rourke answer the specific question — whether he would support the highest tax rate being 70 percent, even as Ms. Guthrie pushed to follow up. He called for a “fair” tax code and raising corporate tax rates.
Later, Mr. Booker answered a question about his day one immigration agenda in Spanish, as well.Later, Mr. Booker answered a question about his day one immigration agenda in Spanish, as well.
“The situation now is unacceptable, this president has attacked, he has demonized immigrants. I am going to change this,” Mr. Booker said.“The situation now is unacceptable, this president has attacked, he has demonized immigrants. I am going to change this,” Mr. Booker said.
After nearly 20 minutes of limited interaction between the candidates on stage, Mr. Holt pulled out his first raise-your-hand question: Which candidates on stage support abolishing private health insurance companies in favor of a government-run plan.After nearly 20 minutes of limited interaction between the candidates on stage, Mr. Holt pulled out his first raise-your-hand question: Which candidates on stage support abolishing private health insurance companies in favor of a government-run plan.
Only two of the 10 candidates on the stage raised their hands high in the air: Ms. Warren and Mr. de Blasio.Only two of the 10 candidates on the stage raised their hands high in the air: Ms. Warren and Mr. de Blasio.
Later, Ms. Warren explained why she embraced the so-called Medicare-for-All approach to health care, and criticized politicians who said it was unfeasible.Later, Ms. Warren explained why she embraced the so-called Medicare-for-All approach to health care, and criticized politicians who said it was unfeasible.
“What they’re really telling you is they just won’t fight for it,” she said. “Well, health care is a basic human right and I’ll fight for it.”“What they’re really telling you is they just won’t fight for it,” she said. “Well, health care is a basic human right and I’ll fight for it.”
The crowd applauded.The crowd applauded.
“Private insurance is not working for tens of millions of Americans,” Mr. de Blasio later added.“Private insurance is not working for tens of millions of Americans,” Mr. de Blasio later added.
On Tuesday, a shocking image surfaced from the U.S.-Mexico border: Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez and his 23-month-old daughter drowned in the Rio Grande as they journeyed toward Texas hoping to seek asylum. They were captured in a photograph lying face down in the dirty water with the daughter’s arm over her father’s neck, huddled inside his black shirt.
And late Tuesday night, word broke that Robert S. Mueller III, the former special counsel, had agreed to testify before Congress on July 17 on his investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election as well as President Trump’s potential obstruction of justice
For many observers, the image drove home the desperation of migrants as they attempt to reach the United States. On the debate stage, Democrats could be looking for ways to draw contrasts with Mr. Trump’s hard-line border policies, and it could create an opening for the two Texans onstage, Mr. O’Rourke and Mr. Castro, to speak with authority and passion about an issue directly affecting their state.
And will the Mueller testimony prompt the NBC moderators to inject the issue of impeachment into the Democratic debates in a prominent way?
While some of the most prominent 2020 contenders support beginning impeachment proceedings against Mr. Trump, others, including Joseph R. Biden Jr., the former vice president, have backed a more restrained approach as some Democrats worry that a focus on impeachment could lead to political backlash.
One short question ahead of the debate: Will any of the candidates opt to stand on an “apple box” to boost their height?
After all, Mr. de Blasio will be standing 6-foot-5 and seven-eighths of an inch high at one edge of the stage.
A memo from the Democratic National Committee to the campaigns ahead of the debate said that two sizes would be available. But it’s not clear that the extra inches could be worth the potential for ridicule.
Dan Pfeiffer, a Democratic strategist, recalled working for Senator Tom Daschle in 2004 and having him sit on a pillow during a debate to appear taller. It became a big story.
“Lesson: looking short would have been better,” Mr. Pfeiffer wrote on Twitter.
Hillary Clinton competed in two cycles of presidential primary debates, in 2016 and 2008, and she was the only woman on stage both times. Most presidential campaigns since 2000 have had a female candidate running in one or both parties — until this year, when a record six women entered the race for the Democratic nomination.Hillary Clinton competed in two cycles of presidential primary debates, in 2016 and 2008, and she was the only woman on stage both times. Most presidential campaigns since 2000 have had a female candidate running in one or both parties — until this year, when a record six women entered the race for the Democratic nomination.
So Wednesday night’s debate will make history: instead of one woman on the presidential debate stage, there will be three: Ms. Warren, Ms. Klobuchar and Ms. Gabbard.So Wednesday night’s debate will make history: instead of one woman on the presidential debate stage, there will be three: Ms. Warren, Ms. Klobuchar and Ms. Gabbard.
Some Democratic activists and elected officials have expressed concerns that the women running for president are being overlooked by many voters and some donors, pointing to the fact that Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders have been leading in the polls and raising significant money.
The debates are the biggest chance yet for the six women to make the most a national spotlight. Many of them have significant legislative and debate experience, and their supporters hope that their resumes and some of their personal characteristics that have received less attention — Ms. Klobuchar’s sense of humor, for example — may attract notice as well.The debates are the biggest chance yet for the six women to make the most a national spotlight. Many of them have significant legislative and debate experience, and their supporters hope that their resumes and some of their personal characteristics that have received less attention — Ms. Klobuchar’s sense of humor, for example — may attract notice as well.
Thursday night’s debate will include Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand and Marianne Williamson.Thursday night’s debate will include Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand and Marianne Williamson.
Democratic presidential hopefuls face the daunting task of vying for attention in a series of debates including 20 candidates (Thursday night, the next set of candidates will debate one another). Republicans had a similar problem in 2016.
Ms. Warren has gained on Mr. Sanders in some polls as both fight for the mantle of progressive standard-bearer. And in recent weeks, Mr. Sanders and his allies have appeared to take some oblique swipes at her.Ms. Warren has gained on Mr. Sanders in some polls as both fight for the mantle of progressive standard-bearer. And in recent weeks, Mr. Sanders and his allies have appeared to take some oblique swipes at her.
Ms. Warren will be onstage Wednesday while Mr. Sanders won’t appear until Thursday — but it is worth watching whether Ms. Warren, directly or implicitly, proactively moves to draw contrasts with Mr. Sanders.Ms. Warren will be onstage Wednesday while Mr. Sanders won’t appear until Thursday — but it is worth watching whether Ms. Warren, directly or implicitly, proactively moves to draw contrasts with Mr. Sanders.
She has been more open in her differences with former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., criticizing his high-dollar fund-raising and his references last week to working with segregationists during his time in the Senate.She has been more open in her differences with former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., criticizing his high-dollar fund-raising and his references last week to working with segregationists during his time in the Senate.
Mr. Biden won’t be onstage with Ms. Warren either, but it will be notable if she sharpens her argument against him on Wednesday.Mr. Biden won’t be onstage with Ms. Warren either, but it will be notable if she sharpens her argument against him on Wednesday.
Telemundo will be the first Spanish-language network to co-host a Democratic presidential debate, bringing the candidates to thousands of Latino living rooms across the country and bringing Latinos’ concerns to prime time.
If there is a moment to address Latino voters, it’s this one. Moderators and candidates might frame their questions and responses to address the concerns of the Latino community a lot more than usual.
Immigration and the border and family separations are sure to come up. Health care and job security — Latino voter’s biggest concerns is likely to come up as well. Spanish-sprinkled answers are to be expected, especially from Mr. Castro and Mr. O’Rourke.
Are you watching the debates? We’re eager to hear from our readers.Are you watching the debates? We’re eager to hear from our readers.
Please tell us in the comments what you think of the candidates’ performances. For Democrats, who did you did you support going into the debates? Has that changed? If so, tell us why.Please tell us in the comments what you think of the candidates’ performances. For Democrats, who did you did you support going into the debates? Has that changed? If so, tell us why.
We want to hear from Republicans, too — who has stood out to you? Did any of the candidates resonate with you or seem to pose a serious threat to President Trump’s re-election bid?We want to hear from Republicans, too — who has stood out to you? Did any of the candidates resonate with you or seem to pose a serious threat to President Trump’s re-election bid?
We may feature your comments in upcoming stories. Please include your name, where you live and what party you’re registered with.