2nd DEM Debate Thread: July 30 & 31, Detroit (MI), CNN

[The Undefeatable Debbie Stabenow]

Am I the only one who thought Ryan did decently? I don’t even like him, but he was leaps and bounds better than his disastrous performance in the first debate.

[The Undefeatable Debbie Stabenow]

Clearly, Harris is not trouncing Biden like she did earlier, but y’all are really acting like Harris is getting buried and Biden is triumphing? Harris is definitely not a “loser,” she’s not a clear winner like before but that doesn’t make her a loser.

[The Undefeatable Debbie Stabenow]

Finally someone brings up Biden’s Hyde Amendment flip-flop. Super easy shot at him.

[The Undefeatable Debbie Stabenow]

Biden’s response to the Hyde Amendment was such a nonanswer, I wish Harris kept pushing him on it.

[The Undefeatable Debbie Stabenow]

Why is everyone predicting Harris’ demise because of this debate? Her interactions with Biden were a wash.

[The Undefeatable Debbie Stabenow]

Did Biden not even apologize for his Iraq War vote?

He did say it was a mistake.

[The Undefeatable Debbie Stabenow]

Did Bennet just change his position on stage after listening to what Castro said?

I didn’t really understand that interaction either. Seemed like Bennet basically just told Castro “you do you,” not that he himself was changing his own opinion.

[The Undefeatable Debbie Stabenow]

Sincerely grateful that this is the last time we will have to see half of these people on the debate stage.

[The Undefeatable Debbie Stabenow]

1. Booker
2. Gabbard

3. Yang
4. Biden
5. Castro

6. Harris
7. Inslee
8. Bennet

9. Gillibrand
10. de Blasio

[The Undefeatable Debbie Stabenow]

It's too bad that Gillibrand's attack on Biden flopped as badly as it did and that her point about white privilege was as poorly articulated as it was, because I think she was actually having a really good night otherwise. She was really strong on healthcare, as she was in the first debate, and she wasn't afraid to tear into de Blasio regarding Pantaleo, an exchange that she obviously won out on. Her Clorox line, although clearly rehearsed, was well-delivered and well-received. She was also smart to mention her work on repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell and the 9/11 first responders healthcare fun in her opening statement.

Unfortunately, I think that the lackluster moments I mentioned overshadow all of the favors she did for herself otherwise. Biden completely failed to provide a logical justification for what he said, but the audience clearly found his clapback to be more compelling than her criticism. And I think the point she was trying to make about white privilege and race was a good one, but she really struggled to convey it effectively.