Warren Proved to Be Most Skilled on Debate Stage

[DonViejo]

June 27, 2019 at 9:22 am EDT By Taegan Goddard

Matthew Yglesias: “Elizabeth Warren not only served as the literally and metaphorically central figure of the opening Democratic debate, but also took a few clear steps toward demonstrating that she’s ready to compete with President Trump on the general election stage.”

“Warren showed early in the debate what everyone knows — that she has a keen mind and a passion for restraining corporate power and plutocracy. But what Democrats wonder about Warren is whether she’s a winner, especially when she has to play outside her comfort zone of business regulation.”

“Wednesday night, she did that — addressing a core worry of Bernie Sanders supporters, elegantly sidestepping an intraparty spat over immigration, and, perhaps most interestingly of all, refusing to go far left on guns even when doing so would have been an easy applause line. Warren skillfully hewed to a moderate course while still sounding like a solid progressive. It’s not easy to pull that off. And it’s what it takes to win a presidential election.”

The Hill: “Warren was sharp, energetic and often stood above the fray as many of her rivals bickered and declined to challenge her policies, even when they had previously disagreed with her.”

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https://politicalwire.com/2019/06/27/warren-proved-to-be-most-skilled-on-debate-stage/

[mainstreetonce]

1. She is very impressive

If not Joe,then Liz.

[lark]

3. My feelings exactly.

If not Joe Biden, then Liz Warren.

[tblue37]

2. She was a debate champ in school. nt

[Honeycombe8]

4. I disagree. Klobuchar ran away with it.

But Klobuchar is not the popular flavor of the moment. Nonetheless, she was the only President on the stage.

Warren was great as a policy wonk. I'd definitely want her in charge of the "advancement and innovation" team in my Fortune 500 Company. Much of what she talks about isn't possible in the real world, when you consider that half the nation would never agree to some of her proposals. She has plans that sound good, though, for the most part. I dislike some of her plans, though. Although they have no chance of becoming law.

She IS playing to her strengths, though.

[hedda_foil]

5. 70% of the public agrees with her plans.

[karynnj]

7. Long game, you might be right

She was competent, articulate and unfailingly pleasant. IF Biden stumbles badly - which I don't see, she could become the candidate of the more moderate Democrats. All of the people said to have done well in most of the reviews are more in the progressive side.

I think the attack on her - as she announced - that she is a bad boss has worked to keep support for her down because it attacks what could have been her strength shown in the Kavanaugh hearings of seeming to be "Midwestern nice". If Biden stumbles, that might be reconsidered as policy wise, she may be so well positioned. Consider that only Warren, Harris, Sanders and Mayor Pete and in a few polls, Beto, currently have even a moderate level of support. Tonight's debate might show if Harris, who I think could position herself in either category will decide to lean towards moderate or progressive positions or to bridge the two. The LESS progressive Harris seems, the more likely that she could be the beneficiary of a Biden stumble. Other than her, of those with current support, only Mayor Pete and Beto could be seen as the moderate choice.

I suspect that events in South Bend have damaged Mayor Pete and Beto was terrible in the debates. Inslee, who, like Harris, might be a more liberal possibility for the moderate track was disappointing in the debate.

Not to mention, there is the question of whether the Democratic primary voter population leans to the progressive or the moderate side. Looking at polling, at this point, the break down might be near 50/50 -- when you sum Biden, Pete and Beto vs Warren Sanders and Harris. Note that if Biden has no significant failure, even if that percent shifts slightly - he will still likely be the nominee. In both 1976 and 1992, the frontrunner (Carter and Clinton) had more than 50% wanting a more liberal candidate (if you summed the opponents), but ABC did not work. Here, the general favorablitity and likability of Biden makes it less likely.

[Honeycombe8]

8. The majority of Democrats is moderate.

Then progressive. With some far left and some near the center line between left & Republican. That's what I read, anyway. That it's the moderates who decide elections, in the Dem. Party.

The article also mentioned that much is made of the fact that several far left or Democratic Socialist candidates were elected to Congress in 2018, but the reality is that the vast majority of the newly elected ones are moderate, voted in by the Democratic moderate majority.

I'll try to find that article again. But I have no independent knowledge or research of these things.

[Blue_Adept]

6. "But what Democrats wonder about Warren is whether she's a winner"

She's won elections, therefore she's a winner.

[bluewater]

9. K&R

[BeckyDem]

10. Not surprised. She delivered as expected.

Warren 2020