How To Watch Tonights Democratic Debate
The first all white and the last before voting starts.
With Corey Booker's recent departure from the 2020 Democratic primary and Andrew Yang's failure to meet certain polling or funding requirements; tonight's Dem debate will be the first to feature only white candidates.
Despite starting off as one the largest and most diverse fields in history; input from the donor class, the media, as well as the onslaught of self funded billionaire candidates have whittled the field to a handful of white folks.
The Fight For Influence: Early Primary States vs. The "Obama" Coalition.
Before you grab your protest signs and take to the streets, have you considered that if in fact black voters are essential to winning the democratic nomination, then black voters are in part responsible for the racial make-up of the field? Vice-President has enjoyed double digit support among African-Americans before he even formally announced that he was running, despite Kamala Harris, the second black woman elected to the U.S. senate having already announced. It would appear that majority of voters of color believe that it would take one old white man to beat another one.
In addition to minority voters, early primary states (typically states with lower populations) also have to fight for influence inside a big tent party like the Democratic party where everyone is accepted. Many voters recognize this.
The idea that black voters will not vote simply because there isn't a candidate on the ballot that looks like us is insulting.
How Will White Women Vote?
At this point in a presidential campaign we're all basically just reading tea leaves however, there may be a voter bloc that could shine more light on the future of the electorate.
Caucasian women in the nation's suburbs were instrumental in taking back control of the U.S. House of Representatives from the republicans in 2018 midterms.
Debate basics
When: 8 p.m., Tuesday
Where: Sheslow Auditorium, Drake University, Des Moines
Candidates: Former Vice President Joe Biden; former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg; U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts; and billionaire political activist Tom Steyer
Moderators: CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, CNN political correspondent Abby Phillip and Des Moines Register chief politics reporter Brianne Pfannenstiel
How to watch: The debate will air live on CNN. A free livestream of the event will be available online on DesMoinesRegister.com and CNN.com and on mobile devices via the Register's iOS and Android apps.
