Democratic Candidates Take The Stage For Their First Debate Of 2016 Race

Bernie Sanders and the rest of her Democratic rivals. And you have Bernie Sanders, who will not get the nomination, will not get in the White House, but might be interesting for a few minutes.

The Republican presidential candidates already have had two chances to spar with each other in a nationally televised forum. Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee will be on opposite sides of the stage next to O’Malley and Sanders. Lincoln Chafee’s shoestring campaign is quixotic at best. She wavered in her position on stage, allowing her competitors to jump on the moment and gain traction painting her as wishy-washy and non-committal.

Vice President Joe Biden, who is still mulling a bid and is not expected at the debate Tuesday, is similarly viewed favorably by 72 percent of Democrats while 17 percent do not view him favorably in the poll. Unlike the crowded field in the Republican primaries, the comparatively small group of Democrats should give the candidates more time to make their points and share their ideas with the audience.

The party hasn’t budged, but O’Malley is undaunted. He complained loud and long that the six debates planned by the party are little more than circling the wagons around Clinton as the inevitable nominee.

“We have to draw contrasts”, O’Malley said.

“I think casino capitalism, runaway capitalism, which is what we are experiencing right now is a disaster”.

The electronic billboard ad, featuring Sanders, Hillary Clinton, and other Democratic Party contenders is reminiscent of those used for heavyweight fights. Sanders has said he’ll stick to policy issues when confronting Clinton, but the other candidates – and the CNN moderators – may not hold back. A year ago he said the Obama administration’s unilateral decision to use military force in Libya was improper. Denounce her judgment in using a personal email account while secretary of state and causing a scandal? She launched several barbs at Trump.

Outside Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel, Hillary Clinton commented, “I don’t think it’s entertaining when somebody insults immigrants, insults women – that’s just unacceptable”. “He really refuses to deviate much from his economic inequality shtick on the campaign trail – which, to be fair, is a very powerful message that has gotten him far”, said Rynard, who writes about presidential politics on the website Iowa Starting Line. Backers of the Massachusetts senator even have their own hashtag – #warrenwing – to monitor who embraces their liberal agenda the most.

“Fiorina was a complete unknown”.

2 Martin O’Malley and Jim Webb have the resumes of serious candidates, but are going nowhere. The Vice President probably won’t attend the debate – though CNN has a podium ready for him just in case – but his presence will be felt. “I’m thinking and hoping and praying by the end of the debate, people are looking at it like a three-horse race”.

In an interview with the Guardian on the eve of the first Democratic presidential debate, Trump said Sanders’ beliefs were “a short road to failure for this country”.