Last night was not good for the Democrats. Very, very not good at all.

[Yavin4]

Bernie was horrible. Maybe his worst debate performance ever. Maybe not coincidentally, it was his first time ever at being the clear front runner, and he blew it. He lost his temper often and was not cool under pressure. There's an art to emoting anger without being angry. Portray your ideas in a hopeful, optimistic manner instead of a screed against the top 1%.

Biden was the winner by default, but he had to yell his way through it. Bloomberg is completely out of his league as a candidate. Money cannot buy you everything. Warren went after Bloomberg again which makes no sense. Pete, Amy, and Stayer really have no reason to still be in this race.

Any more nights like that and Trump will win going away.

[DanTex]

1. Huh. Post-debate polls had Bernie as the winner. Goes to show, opinions vary...

[Yavin4]

3. He cannot lose his temper like that against Trump in a big presidential prime time debate.

it's a really bad look. Really bad.

[Moderateguy]

2. The field will narrow after ST and the next (and last) debate should be much better

[Poeraria]

4. Trump's chances for re-election took a hit last night.

With Biden on the ascent, Trump is realizing that he will have his hands full. Hopefully, Biden gains momentum and we can put this wrangling behind us, get behind Joe, and turn our resources on defeating Trump.

[Squinch]

5. I like all of Pete, Amy and Steyer, but I agree.

[PJMcK]

6. "...Trump will win going away."

Sadly, this is the stone in the pit of my stomach.

I believe that the sum of Republican gerrymandering, Russian interference, voter roll purges and electronic vote flipping will result in Trump's re-election. And that's it: the end of American Constitutional government.

[BusyBeingBest]

7. Object to your statement about Pete, Amy, Steyer--

there's no reason why they shouldn't make their case at least through Super Tuesday. That said, I don't watch debates. I never think that the declared winner is really the winner, so I know it's just going to aggravate me.

[Baked Potato]

9. The season is way too long.

Hell, there’s enough time to just start over again with new candidates.

[Awsi Dooger]

10. I would say it's bad because Biden has reemerged above Bloomberg

I like Biden. But he's run twice and failed. The Bob Dole comparison is there for a reason. Plus Biden has lost more than a step. That would show up during a long campaign.

Joe Biden would be a safe strategic choice that would likely fall short.

I don't care about names. Nominating a socialist would not work. As always, big picture focus devours details. The nation is 35% conservatives and 26% liberals. Anyone relying on a socialist and also relying on turnout is double barrel kidding themselves.

We desperately needed Mike Bloomberg to emerge as frontrunner. He's not a two-time loser and he's not an easily rejected socialist. People love to rant about past statements and day to day details, while completely oblivious toward that brief window in late October and early November. That window is all that matters. Self-made 60 billion is a ton of benefit of a doubt and teflon and a ton of swing voters.

If Bloomberg had emerged as clear frontrunner then Trump would be underdog toward November. Instead Trump is trading at 57%. If Sanders becomes the nominee then that 57 surges upward. The restraint in the Trump market right now is due to that remaining uncertainty toward the Democratic nod.

Anyone here cheering against Bloomberg has been cheering to lower our expectancy. That's the bottom line. Day to day obsessive types will scream against that. Day to day detail types always allow the big picture to float comfortably above their head.

[eissa]

12. All this hand-wringing because candidates were mean

Do people forget what primaries are for? It's to weed out the weakest links. Has everyone forgotten the toxicity of the 2016 GOP primaries, the 2008 Dem primaries, and particularly the 1992 Dem primaries? In each of those cases the person who was torched the most went on to win the nomination.

This is a battle, and whomever emerges from the ashes to fight again in November will have a hopefully united party behind them. Don't lose hope this early.

[flor-de-jasmim]

13. I disagree that Warren going after Bloomberg is a waste of time.

A large part of focus is the inequality in our system and the way the system works for the very wealthy. What she is demonstrating is not just what she is willing to say about another candidate, but also how she will go after the very wealthy in general.

[StevieM]

14. I thought Mayor Pete won the debate, followed by Biden.

I agree that the election will likely come down to 2 or 3 people after Super Tuesday.

[redqueen]

15. I think you really overestimate the importance of one debate.

Just mho

[tavernier]

16. I heard Joe had a great debate

and is all but certain to take SC.
I’m on vacation so not so focused on news.
Did I hear wrong??