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

[Ogre Mage]

Biden is going to get pounded by Harris, Booker, Yang, Gabbard, Castro, and De Blasio

Gabbard has actually been defending Biden lately on twitter. I don't think she'll join a dog-pile. And Yang isn't exactly an attack dog.

Gabbard won't go after Biden about racism, but her criticism of the Obama Administration's foreign policy is well-documented.  That's where I'd look for her to attack.

[Ogre Mage]

I think both Biden and Harris got bad draws.  Biden because he is going to be under fire all night from aggressive lower polling candidates, many of whom are quite progressive and have nothing to lose.
 After stumbling on race he will be on the debate stage with every candidate of color in the field.  Harris because at this point, going after Biden a second time puts her in significant danger of raising her disapproval ratings.  It would be better if she could just project her own positive message, similar to what Warren did in the first debate.  But if Booker and Castro score hits on Biden while Harris stands passively by, do they start to siphon black and Latino support from her?  While most of the field will be going after Biden, Gabbard is a potential irritant for Harris.

[Ogre Mage]

I feel that my prediction about this debate back on July 20th mostly came true:

I think both Biden and Harris got bad draws.  Biden because he is going to be under fire all night from aggressive lower polling candidates, many of whom are quite progressive and have nothing to lose. After stumbling on race he will be on the debate stage with every candidate of color in the field.  Harris because at this point, going after Biden a second time puts her in significant danger of raising her disapproval ratings.  It would be better if she could just project her own positive message, similar to what Warren did in the first debate.  But if Booker and Castro score hits on Biden while Harris stands passively by, do they start to siphon black and Latino support from her?  While most of the field will be going after Biden, Gabbard is a potential irritant for Harris.