How did the Democratic candidates do in their first debates? We rated them.
The first round of Democratic presidential debates, spread over four hours on Wednesday and Thursday nights, didn't produce any disasters that will drive anyone from the race, though former Vice President
Their attacks, more than his responses, may dominate public perceptions.
While several candidates helped themselves and raised their stature -- Harris unarguably is now in the top tier of candidates -- others didn't do enough to break out of the pack.
And the performance of
Some candidates stood out not for what happened on stage, but what happened outside the debate hall.
Hours later he apologized.
And spiritual guru Williamson attracted lots of attention, on Twitter at least, for a pre-debate email to in which she urged people to "turn debate distress into debate de-stress" by turning a drinking game into something that called for various yoga moves.
"Instead of Instead of downing a shot, do a downward dog. Instead of throwing back a Harvey Wallbanger, just try legs up the wall pose. Every time someone talks about the green new deal, strike an eagle pose .... They shout infrastructure, you drop into a low plank," her press release said.
Candidate ratings
Style Substance
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Candidate scores are the collective average from
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Style:
Substance:
--Overly wonkish, boring and didn't connect with viewers. He's done.
--The
--He knows what he knows, but ... just kept drifting away while he spoke. Knowledge good, presentation weak.
--The leader of the anti-Bernie faction, but will that help him any?
--Shows a knowledge of policy, but has a charisma deficit.
--He effectively challenged
--He tried to come across as a moderate, but it's not clear
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More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--Unimpressive. Knocked back on his heels by
--He's leading in the early polls. He's who everyone is gunning for. The former vice president did not fend off Harris when she resurrected his decades-old opposition to busing and reaching segregationist senators. Still, he remains the candidate to beat. His age also emerged as an issue with Swalwell's "pass the torch" remark. He did not command the stage. He was playing defense and his opponents scored against him. He disappointed.
--Really expected more of the man considered the early front-runner. He did just "OK." Have to wonder if his statement at the end of the clash with
--Noticeably angry and defensive, and let attacks get to him
--Biden had a terrible night. He was eviscerated by Harris on issues of race, despite his defense of his record. Earlier, his answer on health care and undocumented immigrants could most charitably be described as rambling. He managed to include some sympathetic biographical details for people who may not know his personal history, including the death of his first wife and daughter, and one of his son's service in
--It wasn't a great night for Biden. As the front-runner, he took some hits. The toughest came from
--He tried to defend his record, but he took a beating from others on the stage. He needs some energy if he wants to stay in the front.
--Uncle Joe looked, sounded and acted a man of 76 years. He forgot names, he asked to end his turn to speak at one point. He did himself no favors.
More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--Was effective in attacking big drug companies and the problems with justice system, but didn't seem to connect emotionally with people sitting in their living rooms.
--Got the most time talking of any candidate. Spoke passionately. Got in good points on gun violence, saying seven people were shot in his neighborhood last week. He called health care an "American right" and not just a human right. He outlined compassionate immigration policy. Spoke up for transgender folks. He had been struggling to gain traction; tonight he got his campaign footing.
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--Breakout star of the night along with Castro
--Did a great job at getting himself in the conversation. He could be the candiate who breaks out from near-asterisk status based on his debate performance. Based on post-debate news media interest, he was one of night one's winners.
--He knows his stuff, projects empathy and appears presidential. He walks the walk on gun violence, informed by his life's experience. He got a lot of attention and was one of the better performers. He seems comfortable in a high-pressure situation.
--Booker's call to prosecute drug executives who fueled the opioid crisis was a good moment for him. He also knew how to inject personal stories into his talking points. He showed signs that he could be a top-tier candidate.
--Booker turned in a largely forgettable performance, seeming to be largely reactive rather than setting the agenda.
More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--A breath of fresh air. Candid, direct, and didn't sound like a typical politician. Challenged on his response to the shooting of a black man by a white officer, and the lack of black officers in a city that's 26 percent black, he didn't flinch: "I couldn't get it done," he said.
--Mayor Pete has been riding high with a great narrative.
--Very impressed by this up-and-comer who speaks in such an eloquent way. Captured the sincerity vote when he said with no defensiveness "I couldn't get it done" when challenged on the race issues in his city. Captured the intellectual prize with his thoughtful commentary on the
--A solid performance but not quite the breakout performance he needed
--Buttigieg often had reasoned and nuanced assessments of policy issues, but some of his answers on the racial crisis in his city over a white police officer killing a black resident came off as rehearsed. Repeated one of his best moments on the campaign trail with his criticism of Republican hypocrisy for espousing Christian values while separating children from their parents at the southern border.
--He came across as the adult in the room, despite being the youngest candidate in the race. He seemed comfortable on the stage and kept his cool when others were shouting. In a debate where many others were leaning far left, he staked out moderate positions. While he wants health care for all, he doesn't propose getting rid of private health insurance. He well represented middle and rural America. And it was refreshing to see him fall on his sword about the lack of diversity on his city's police force, without making excuses.
--He seemed to have an average performance. He did have any breakout moments, but he didn't do anything to hurt himself.
--For
More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--The only Latino on stage, he very effectively seized control on immigration, and because he's so little-known, he may have gained the most ground. He jabbed at O'Rourke on the issue of criminalizing crossing the
--Certainly gained some name recognition. His "Adios" to Trump line was memorable, scoring on social media and among TV pundits. Pounded O'Rourke on immigration, though got a bit too deep in weeds in talking about Section 1325 of federal immigration law. He'll get some traction with his performance but still has a long way to go. If he doesn't win, he can surely run
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--Sparring with fellow Texan O'Rourke paid off, the night's winner
--May be the lesser-known candidate who helped his candidacy the most. He was confident, aggressive in advocating his positions. Used opportunities effectively, first to introduce himself to viewers, second to advocate policy positions and speak to important constituencies, Hispanic and
--He has a compelling story and solid experience, having served in the Obama administration. He's passionate about the immigration issue. He broke out in taking on O'Rourke. But his plan to decriminalize illegal immigration sounds like "open borders.
--As the lone Latino in the race, Castro emerged as a strong voice on immigration. He came into the debate needing to build name recognition and set himself apart from the pack. He did just that. His joke about telling Trump "adios" is sure to play well with Democratic voters.
--Castro dominated the immigration portion of the debate. When O'Rourke looked to make a mark, Castro batted him down.
More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--His pro-immigrant views and support for a
--Like a tough
--Didn't respond to him trying to "bully" his way into the conversation with other candidates. But he did do the most to make his case and move forward in the crowded field.
--Had a surprisingly good night for an incredibly unpopular mayor
--By pushing himself into the conversation early, he sought to stake out ground as the champion of progressive causes. He might now appeal to many in the party's liberal wing who didn't know much about him before the debate.
--I didn't expect to like him, given what friends in
--Next to Castro, de Blasio did what he needed to do to break out from the lower-tier, delivering some memorable lines on income inequality that will resonate with the Democratic base. His attitude might have seemed pushy to some, but he needed to be pushy to get into the mix.
--De Blasio went from an also-ran to staking out the left flank, along with Warren, after being one of only two candidates to favor abolishing private health insurance.
More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--He was a bit like that guy at the next bar stool who won't leave you alone. Seemed to struggle for attention all night.
--He tried to distinguish himself from his opponents by talking about his entrepreneurial experience in starting two businesses and creating thousands of jobs. His surprised look when he got asked about a closing statement did not look very presidential. He made the case for becoming Commerce Secretary but not president. Not expecting the former
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--Moderators decided to give time to candidates likely to win the nomination, so he didn't get much talk time.
--He's the pragmatist, the Democratic businessman. He's not making promises that won't be kept. On health care, he says keep what works and fix what doesn't. He was hurt by how little time he got to speak.
--Delaney seemed like an afterthought in the debate and begging for attention of any kind from the moderators.
--No comment.
More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--Looked and sounded good, but seemed outclassed in this field. She did effectively handle a question about her past opposition to LGBTQ rights, citing her socially conservative upbringing.
--As a military veteran, she slammed the Trump and his "chickenhawk cabinet" for pushing the country to war with
--Well thought out responses, knows how to make a convincing point. But stiff delivery made me feel as if I was being schooled, and I didn't like it. And, I know I know I know .... you have the most military experience. I get it. (She might have studied too hard; she was great afterward in the spin room.)
--Deflected question about her former anti-LGBTQ beliefs well
--Her combination of personal story and policy positions -- such as her changing views on LGBT community -- could prove confusing for voters. Though liberal on some issues, she's clearly trying to capture a sement of the electorate by repeatedly emphasizing her
--Her strength is foreign affairs. She draws on her status as a military veteran who served in
--Gabbard shined on foreign policy and conveying her experiences in the military, but she didn't seem to connect on other issues. Having to go on the defensive on LGBTQ rights is not where you want to be in a Democratic debate.
--Gabbard used her own military experience to add credence to her anti-war agenda.
More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--The clear winner of the "exceeded expectations" primary. Tough, direct, with substantive criticism of Trump's record.
--She's been divisive within the Democratic party for forcing out
--Another candidate who was just "OK." She did very well, she jumped in when needed to insert her opinion, and her summaries were detailed and thought out. But she just didn't capture the "can she beat Trump" look.
--Effectively returned to the women's rights issues that spurred her campaign
--Spoke effectively about the corruption that can be caused by money in politics.
--She was aggressive about injecting herself into the conversation and strong in presenting her points, be it the dysfunction of
--It didn't seem like she got the airtime she needed.
--She put in a perfectly fine performance, but nothing to remember. Also, she blinked, like, a lot. Once you noticed it, it was impossible to
More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--The clear winner of Debate No 2. Forceful, outraged and determined, she went after
--She's a veteran prosecutor. She's a high-profile senator. She's from
--If anybody was a clear winner in the two nights, it was
--The star of the debate, taking it right to Biden on multiple issues
--Harris had an excellent night. Pushed her way in conversations, and in many ways dominated the debate. Hit it out of the park on undocumented immigrants. And then she hit Biden hard with a compelling takedown on race, which she skillfully expanded beyond the controversy over his recalling how he could work with segregationists to implement positive change. She effortlessly dropped bits of her background, as a former prosecutor and
--In many ways she had a strong performance. She had a great line about people not wanting a food fight, but food on the table. She speaks passionately and authoritatively on many topics. But her most dramatic moment -- the most dramatic of both nights -- came when she confronted
--She had a breakthrough night that could propel her to the front of the pack.
--Only candidate out of 20 that I gave a 5 for both style and substance. She could not have done better.
More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--He referred to himself as a scientist. (Oh, really? We couldn't tell!) Good answers, delivered with a lack of passion that the rank-and-file demands.
--He's another middle-of-the-road moderate who just doesn't have the name recognition to get anywhere close to
--Just didn't make a strong impression. Not his time, not his race.
--Anti-Bernie, but not the most memorable anti-Bernie candidate
--Hickenlooper had an OK but not stellar performance. Part of his answer on the separation of immigrant children from their parents was strong, though it sounded rehearsed, when he said in
--The former governor of
--Not a memorable performance for Hickenlooper, who needed a breakout moment.
--Who? It's not his fault, really. He was barely called on and probably isn't too happy with the
More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--He's the climate change candidate. Good for him. Probably not enough, but he got off arguably the best line of the night: "We are the first generation to feel the
--He spent much of the night wagging his finger trying to get the attention of
--Wanted to rate him higher because his single-issue campaign is something
--Had a single issue, climate change, and really pushed for it
--Thought he's a passionate activist for taking action on climate change. He undoubtely pleased some in the audience who liked his jabbing at President
--He stands apart because he's made climate change his singular issue. He made a big pitch for unions. He stood up to Trump's threat to send refugees to his state. He had concrete accomplishments to point to, but his lack of air time made him appear insignificant.
--He is seen as a leader on climate change, but he needs to establish his command of other issues to move to the front of the pack. It seemed he struggled to get speaking time during the debate. His comment that he is the only candidate on the stage "who has actually advanced the ball" on abortion rights didn't come across well when Klobuchar noted women on the stage had fought hard on the issue.
--Inslee should be a bigger name after this, showing that he is leading this pack in addressing one of the most important issues of the day: Climate Change. It remains to be seen whether that's enough to overcome a crowded field.
More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--Too senatorial ("I'll take a look at that") and not enough heartland talk. But she got one of the biggest applause lines of the night, which was: "I don't think we should conduct foreign policy in our bathrobe at 5 o'clock in the morning," a reference to Trump's tweets.
--She pitches herself as a moderate and the one candidate who can beat Trump by peeling away his voters. In the debate, she didn't fully present the case other than to boast about beating Trump in the "reddest of districts" in her home state of
--Good command of her facts. Had some great lines. Not super-engaging. A workhorse, not a show horse.
--Some good soundbites, but suprisingly bland
--Not exciting, but she showed a command of facts. Attempted to show herself as someone who could connect with voters in middle America, who eluded the
--She exudes confidence in a Midwestern, savvy way. She looked comfortable, confident and commanding. She's a congressional veteran and knows what she's talking about. She's more moderate and not apologetic about it. She's likable.
--She tried to steer to the middle, but it's not clear that's what Democratic voters want. She seemed scripted.
--Klobuchar's primary argument in favor of her candidacy seems to be that she can beat Trump. But all the candidates believe that, and others have policy agendas that make their candidacies more noteworthy.
More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--Earnest, but a little too cerebral. All head and no heart. And he got backed into a corner by
--Bilingual Beto shook things up when he burst into his rough Spanish in answering his first question. Some may have liked it, others may have seen it as pandering to the
--Sorry, Beto, but when you jumped out of the gate speaking Spanish, for no apparent reason, it was a struggle to look at you seriously the rest of the night. Especially when Castro cleaned your clock on immigration. I know your statements were heart-felt, but it looked like you were trying too hard.
--Not the best night for him, and Castro really went at him
--He was seen by some as the No. 2 candidate of the first night's debate -- going in, but not on the way out. Good that he was able to speak in Spanish during the debate, bad that he dodged questions enough that he was called out by moderators more than once. One measure: after the debate he came to the spin room for an interview on
--He had his positions staked out, but he didn't appear presidential. He was shaky in talking about tax rates and too quick to speak in Spanish, though the debate was televised on Telemundo. Lacking the breakout performance he needed, he dropped back in the pack.
--O'Rourke, once hailed as a potential front-runner, didn't do what he needed to do to re-energize his campaign. He came across as ducking a question on raising the top tax rate to 70 percent. He didn't seem in control when challenged by Castro on immigration, who chided him for not doing his "homework" on the issue.
--The once-leading candidate seemed once again to be middle of the pack. He wasn't among the worst in the debate, he wasn't among the best, but with so many candidates that's not enough.
More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--Strong
--The
--Who is this again? Ryan had some passionate moments, but was otherwise forgettable. Definitely not somebody who can win against Trump.
--Got in shots where he could, a muddled answer about
--Got noticed, and ridiculed on Twitter for referring to "coastal and elital.
--He wants the Democratic Party to get back to focusing on forgotten blue-collar Americans, but he seemed to be forgotten on the stage. He deserves kudos for sticking to his guns on an unpopular position -- that America needs a military presence in
--He tried to deliver a narrative about forgotten working class Americans, but he didn't have time to adequately make his case. His exchange with Gabbard on
--Ryan's call to embrace working white men in places like
More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--Strong on single-payer Medicare for all, Same ol'
--Was 2016 the peak of his popularity? Just like in the last Democratic presidential primary, he's trailing the front-runner. This time it's
--This is the Bernie we all remember. He's still making the same pitches, with the same passion. But his closing rang hollow. He accused the others of not making change, but ... can he?
--Powerful defenses of his key issues, but still vague on how he'd do it
--Sanders undoubtedly pleased progressives with his committed forceful advocacy of his policies. Demerit for sometimes avoiding not directly answering -- which started on the first question of the night. Had the most cutting takedown of Trump as a phony, pathological liar and racist.
--Bernie knows his issues. He's passionate in his delivery. He was the best at summing up an issue in a coherent 30-second soundbite. Some of his competitors questioned the wisdom of
--Vintage Bernie but he didn't do what was needed to win new supporters.
--This is Sanders' second time around, and he came across that way. For a second-running candidate, he didn't get as much time as you would expect, but he made as much of his time as he could.
More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--A strong presence on the issue of guns, but otherwise a non-factor.
--Like
--Gotta like a man who clearly has a passion for an issue, as he does for getting rid of guns, and we in
--He opened the floodgates in taking on Biden, and his gun control advocacy is powerful
--Swalwell hit the need for generational change hard, and had the best zinger of the first half of the night when he found a creative way to suggest Biden is past his prime. Some of his comments came off as rehearsed.
--A former prosecutor, he wants to represent the new generation. His signature issue is gun control. He effectively used
--His generational argument came across a bit forced. He is trying to make himself the leader on gun control, but it seems he needs to expand beyond that if he wants to move to the front of the pack.
--You have to give props to the one Democrat who's honest enough to say, Yes, I do want to take your guns away.
More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--Forceful, with a fighting spirit, she seemed to get the most air time. She adroitly kept the focus on economic inequality and on how the rich and powerful have too much control, an effective message with much of the party's base. If this debate had a winner, it's Warren.
--Sitting center stage of the debate only reaffirmed her status as the top candidate tonight. She commanded the stage. She was presidential. She spoke passionately. Right from the start. Her first question was whether her platform was too risky for the
--She's good. Always has been. Knows her facts, makes her case, keeps her focus. But she just lacked fire. And, it felt as if she was getting preferential treatment on the stage.
--Good, direct answers, though she's been better
--Warren started the debate as the front runner among the first night's candidates, and emerged even more strongly as the leader. She spoke with conviction and explained her politcies in a way that may seem relatable to many voters at home. Based on news media interest in her after the debate, she was a night one winner.
--She's smart and has done her homework. She has specific plans and can explain them. She projects passion and is a fighter. But can she win people's hearts?
--As the best-polling candidate on night one, Warren was consistent and didn't commit any unforced errors. She didn't deliver breakthrough, memorable zingers, but she didn't need to. Her commitment to abolishing private health insurance might help her with liberal voters in the primary, but it could come back to bite her if she makes it to the general.
--Warren got the first question of the debate, delivered the last closing statement, and through it all took advantage of the fact that she was the lone candidate on the stage who enjoyed support above 10% in some polls.
More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--A bit of a novelty act. Brought up reparations for slavery, out of nowhere.
--Spiritual guru.
--Could I rate her lower? She's just a distraction. Really? Her first action in office would be to call
--What is she even doing here
--Williamson's introduction to much of America, with her discussion of health care made her sound odd. She said it was a mistake to think Trump can be defeated with all the detailed plans from the other candidates but then said "we've got to get a lot deeper than just these superficial fixes."
--When she got to speak, she called out the others for being part of a broken political process. A crusader for social justice, she said the nation should pay reparations for slavery. No one else appeared to have an interest in debating that topic.
--Her aura deserves some points. She came across as calm and collected on a stage of people jockeying for attention.
--It's a shame she did as poorly as everyone expected. Beat
More about this candidate ?
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Style:
Substance:
--He didn't make a decisive impression, and his references to the need for a value-added tax likely went over most viewers' heads.
--A political newcomer with a radical idea: Pay every American a "basic income" of
--He was patient. Didn't say much. Made his pitch. Not exactly a strikeout, but not a hit either.
--He hit his lines about
--Yang didn't have the pop that the Yang Gang, his loyal followers, likely expected. His description that a value-added tax (which he'd use to pay for his monthly grants to people) is regressive since lower income people spend much greater share of their incomes than the wealthy.
--He set himself apart by not wearing a tie. And his promise to give Americans
--He didn't seem to get much airtime, other than his universal basic income proposal that seemed to be inadequately explained
--I give him a high substance score just for putting the idea of universal basic income out into the mainstream. It may not be the right idea, but a proper response to automation and artificial intelligence needs to be planned out now.
More about this candidate ?
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