The New Hampshire Democratic debate held just days before that state’s primary election broke little new ground. Rather, it was a study in voice and presentation. How Granite State Democrats react, of course, is what matters. In that spirit, we have some observations:
1. The Vision Thing.
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren took off as a candidate in a large part because of her array of plans. You may recall her unofficial slogan, “I have a plan for that.” But specificity seems to have morphed into a fetish that constrains her ability to paint — with ease — a vision in broad strokes, except of course for her attacks on corporate greed. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, on the other hand, is very effective in communicating a sweeping vision. His vision is to the left of Warren’s progressivism. But he is more fluid. Perhaps that’s because he is a lifelong Democratic Socialist, while Warren has been on a long journey from being a Republican, to a liberal, to a doyen of progressivism. Both hold their convictions dearly. But Sanders is just more comfortable in his own skin.
2. If Amy Klobuchar had been this sharp from the outset, she could be the frontrunner.
It's not that Klobuchar, the senior senator from Minnesota, hasn't had good moments in previous debates. She has, but she's never been quite as strong as she was Friday. Her standout moments came when she went after Pete Buttigieg, her fellow midwestern moderate and former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, accusing him of inconsistency on healthcare and excessive posturing as a too-cool-for-school political outsider. Klobuchar's style was as impressive as her substance: In contrast to the occasionally squishy presentation that's dogged her in the past, she was crisp, clear and assertive throughout. Maybe she just had a good night, or maybe she's finally developing campaign skills that match the strength of her resume. Klobuchar's odds in New Hampshire are long, but keep an eye on her as we head toward Super Tuesday.
3. Joe Biden gets angry. Maybe too angry.
On multiple occasions Friday, the former vice president seemed like he was on the verge of genuinely losing control. Case in point: When he pushed back at Tom Steyer, insisting he never embraced the idea that the U.S. should be the world's policeman, Biden didn't just cite evidence to make his case; he yelled like an angry parent dressing down a recalcitrant child. Watching one adult talk to another this way is inherently uncomfortable. Watching a would-be Democratic nominee do it raises a question: If Donald Trump got under Biden's skin during a debate, how ugly could things get?
4. Who’s The Greenest Of Them All?
Maverick billionaire Tom Steyer was the first to raise the issue of climate change. Steyer is a smart and shrewd character. How his advertising blitz matches up with fellow billionaire, former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, won't really be known until after Super Tuesday. So mark your calenders for Wednesday, March 4. Friday night, he made a spirited and convincing case for using the battle to save the planet into an opportunity to harness America's industrial might and thus retool the economy. What was interesting was the skilled way Sanders swung at the same ball and hit it out of the park. Sanders used the issue of climate change to sketch an image of an expansive America leading a global crusade that would enlist China, India and the NATO nations. It was the highest sort of practical idealism. And whether his approach is practical or achievable, he was mighty convincing.
5. Like him or not, Pete Buttigieg is legit.
As mentioned earlier, Buttigieg took some serious heat Friday, not just from Klobuchar but from Sanders and Warren, all of whom offered withering critiques of his reliance on super-rich donors. Moderator Linsey Davis also pressed him on the increase in marijuana-related arrests of African Americans during his mayoral tenure. To say he was unscathed would be going too far, since many of these salvos hit home. The remarkable thing, though, is that Buttigieg seemed genuinely unfazed. He responded, or didn’t, and then returned to his regularly scheduled talking points without a hint of anger or frustration or uncertainty sneaking out. That unflappability alone is an incredibly valuable political skill. And Buttigieg has others that don’t necessarily come through on a seven-person debate stage. (At a campaign event in Merrimack, Buttigieg’s ability to plumb his military service for lessons in how America’s deepest divisions might be transcended was almost Obama-esque.) That might not be enough to win you over, if you’re skeptical of Buttigieg’s resume and ideology. But give the man credit: He’s a bona fide political talent, and has — against all odds — a very real chance of becoming the Democratic nominee.
