CNN and Univision hosted the eleventh Democratic primary debate on Sunday at CNN's studio in Washington, D.C., and I enjoyed watching the entire event. The 2 candidates who qualified pitched their visions and ideas in front of a national audience and moderator team of Jake Tapper, Dana Bash, and Univision's Ilia Calderon. The debate was mostly a serious and somber affair, due to the looming threat of the novel coronavirus pandemic, resulting in a debate without an audience. There was spectacle as former vice president Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) finally obtained the opportunity to face each other head-on. There was inspiration, as both candidates tried to reassure the nation their administrations would respond better than President Donald Trump's and called for America to lead the world through strong action based on sound medical advice.
There were no major winners from the debate. Sanders enjoyed yet another decent performance, repeating the strong message of systemic change that made him a front runner. The progressive firebrand showed his usual passion and fiery oratory, tying his signature Medicare for all policy to the coronavirus pandemic and people's fears of medical bankruptcy. Also, he finally attacked Biden's record on Social Security, asking voters to look at YouTube videos showing Biden arguing for freezing Social Security and other entitlement programs. He also went after Biden for his support of the 2005 bankruptcy bill and hypocrisy on being anti-gay marriage in the past, as well as voting differences on the Iraq war, the Hyde Amendment, and various trade deals. Finally, Sanders did well on playing up his long consistency on the issues and his ability to move the Democratic Party to embrace his healthcare and labor ideas.
Biden was widely expected to do poorly in a direct two-person debate, but he easily exceeded the low expectations by not uttering a horrible gaffe or suddenly forgetting how to speak. He did slip up a few times and called the coronavirus SARS and Ebola, but he did not commit any serious mistakes. He managed to forcefully defend his contentious record and moderate vision. He called out Sanders on his revolutionary aspirations, instead promoting pragmatic incrementalism that can help people in the vein of President Barack Obama. He somewhat haphazardly tried to defend his controversial record in the Senate, outright rejecting Sanders' claims about his past positions and letting the viewers fact check at home. Biden seemed more calm, stately, and electable than he did in previous debates, which could do wonders for his message that he would be the best choice to defeat Trump in the general.
The eleventh Democratic debate was the most serious one yet, thank to the specter of global pandemic. The 3 moderators did an excellent job with important and neutral questions on the most important topics like coronavirus, healthcare, records, immigration, and climate change. In general, the debate failed to live up to Sanders' expectations because Biden defied expectations and did not implode during the direct challenge. Perhaps Sanders lost his last best chance to turn the momentum of the race around, as he faces increasingly unlikely odds to secure a plurality of delegates.
The author is an independent voter sharing his own opinion.