What struck me as odd is why they did it on a Friday night when very few people were going to bother to watch. So why did I watch it? Well, I had nothing better to do tonight.
I also thought the debate would be a little different than the other debate watch parties I've attended. The debate watch party I attended was at The Artist Co-op which is situated on the third floor of a red brick building on West 52nd Street just off 10th Avenue. I had been under the impression the theater group would be performing the debate either as it happened or at its conclusion. This did not come to pass. Rather at the conclusion of the last debate they will have a political analysis meeting and from that write a script which they will perform in April. I might or might not attend that performance.
With no theatrical piece to review, I shall instead review the debate.
Andrew Yang - After missing last month's debate, Yang proved rusty and was a non-factor except for his closing statement on poverty. The Yang Gang might soon break up.
Pete Buttigieg - Although there was no winner declared in Iowa, Buttigieg got the frontrunner treatment from nearly all his opponents and the panel particularly Linsey Davis who pressed him on the number of African-Americans arrested in South Bend for drug possession during his tenure as mayor. Davis then asked Elizabeth Warren if she thought Buttigieg's answer was adequate. Well, how do you think she answered?
But I think Buttigieg kept his cool and gave as good as he got and was the most Presidential of any of the candidates.
Bernie Sanders - The Senator from neighboring Vermont was his usual ranting self. While favored to win in New Hampshire, Sanders did make a point of sparring with Buttigieg over getting donations from billionaires. Clearly Bernie now sees Buttigieg as his biggest threat as do most of the candidates.
Joe Biden - When the former VP keeps his answers short and sweet he's fine. But his tendency to ramble on and on doesn't inspire confidence. It certainly didn't in Iowa where he finished fourth and I don't think he did much to advance his case tonight.
Elizabeth Warren - Unlike the conclusion of last month's debate when she refused to shake Bernie Sanders' hand, she now told Democrats she and Bernie were good friends. But Bernie has stolen her thunder and she did nothing tonight to get it back.
Amy Klobuchar - The Minnesota Senator gets better with every debate. She connected with the debate audience at St. Anslem College and at the Artist's Co-op though it was a largely pro-Bernie crowd. It didn't hurt her that she was chummy with Bernie even while disagreeing with him. It also didn't hurt that she mentioned New Hampshire Democratic Senators Jean Shaheen and Maggie Hassan on multiple occasions. While the ratings for this debate might have been low I suspect they were a lot of eyes tuned in the Granite state. If that is the case this debate could help her at least in the short term. If she pulls an upset or finishes a strong second we will be hearing about her temper in short order. But if she finishes lower than third on Tuesday night then her campaign is done despite her best efforts.
Tom Steyer - This was also the billionaire's best debate. He got his biggest cheers when he said the only way to beat Trump would be on the economy, not health care. But I think it's too little, too late. And what happens should Michael Bloomberg make the debate stage?
The next Democratic debate is scheduled to take place on February 19th in Las Vegas. I'm going bowling that night. Unlike tonight, I'll have something better to do.
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