The second Democratic debate has started, with the ten remaining candidates preparing for tonight’s showdown.
As with last night, the debate is taking place in Miami, Florida, finishing at 11pm EST (4am UK).
The candidates taking part tonight are: Marianne Williamson, John Hickenlooper, Andrew Yang, Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand, Michael Bennet and Eric Swalwell.
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Andrew Yang, who spent the least time speaking at the second night of the debates, offered this particularly sassy commentary in response to why he wasn’t able to speak as long as his opponents:
Pete Buttigieg’s campaign is claiming victory for the debates, while announcing the candidate will not come to the spin room to meet with reporters:
Joe Biden is now saying he doesn’t think Kamala Harris “intended” to mis-characterise his position on race:
Here are my main takeaways from the second night of the 2020 Democratic debates:
The gloves are off. Here are some of the best moments from day two of the Democratic debates:
Joe Biden’s people reportedly say they’re “not freaking out” about one of Kamala Harris’ moments that clearly stole the show, in which she confronted the former vice president:
In a moment sure to go down in presidential debate history, Ms Harris expertly laid into her positioning on stage and halted a raucous moment between candidates in a way the night’s moderators were seemingly unable to do.
“America does not want to witness a food fight,” she said as the candidates went back and forth over her, sparring over policy. “They want to know how we’re going to put food on their table.”
The moment drew cheers from the crowd, which seemingly reacted positively to several zingers Ms Harris employed throughout the night.
This moment when Joe Biden caught Bernie Sanders’ hand flailing in front of him has gone viral across Twitter –
One thing in the section of foreign policy.
Moments after Mr Biden touted his role in pulling troops out of Iraq during the Obama administration, Nr Sanders reminded the former vice president of his role in the decision to send them there.
“One of the differences Joe and I have in our record is Joe voted for (the Iraq) war,” Mr Sanders said, referencing Mr Biden’s vote to authorise military force when he was in the Senate. “I helped lead the opposition to that war, which is a total disaster.”
The second night of presidential debates among 2020 Democratic hopefuls kicked off on Thursday to a contentious battle among frontrunners — and others who successfully fought their way into the spotlight.
Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders were front-and-centre at the second night of debates among the 20-plus leading Democrats vying for a shot at taking on Donald Trump in the general election.
On their sides were Pete Buttigieg, the Indiana mayor who rose quickly in the polls ahead of the debates but had a seemingly weaker showing than Kamala Harris, the California senator who drew swift praise for confronting Mr Biden “on the issue of race.”
The second round of debates proved to be more aggressive than the prior night, with higher-polling candidates attacking each other on policy proposals and others like Eric Swallwell, a California congressman, taking direct shots at his counterparts for their apparent shortcomings in office.
Hickenlooper: As Colorado governor, I brought in progressive policies. Socialism is bad, and will relect Trump.
Gillibrand: Women in America are on fire, but our rights are under attack. I will take on the fights no one else will. Now is not the time to be afraid of first.
Yang: The right candidate to beat Trump will have a vision of a trickle-up economy. I am that candidate, I can build a broad coalition.
Harris: this election is about you. Your hopes, your dreams, your fears. I will lead with dignity, honesty.
Into final statements. Strong from Harris, Sanders and Swalwell.
Williamson’s pitch will get attention, she is certainly not afraid to sound “out there”.
The candidates were asked which foreign relationships they would focus on improving first:
Williamson: European leaders
Hickenlooper: The entire world
Yang: China
Buttigieg: We need to model values for the rest of the world
Biden: Nato
Sanders: It’s not one country. It’s rebuilding trust in the United Nations
Harris: Nato
Gillibrand: Iran
Bennet: European allies and every Central American country
Swalwell: We need to break up with Russia and make up with Nato
Telling a personal tale will always attract voters.
Kamala Harris is really making the most of that line against Mr Biden.
Here is Biden on guns, calling for smart weapons with biometric data
Kamala Harris is having a great night.
Here is that slightly strange answer from Williamson:
Candidates asked what one issue they would want to focus on.
Swalwell: ending gun violence
Bennet: climate change
Gillibrand: passing a family bill of rights
Harris: working families tax cut, immigration, guns
Sanders: talks of political revolution
Buttigieg: fix our broken political system
Yang: Universal Basic Income, which would help with climate change
Hickenlooper: collaborative approach on climate change
Williamson: call the prime minister of New Zealand and ask for her advice on climate change
Biden: first thing I’d make sure we do is defeat Trump
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