Reaction to the Democratic Presidential Debate

Tonight’s Democratic presidential debate was often more about Bernie Sanders than Hillary Clinton.

Clinton obliterated Sanders on gun control and though she was less effective trying to suggest Sanders would weaken the Affordable Care Act, she kept him on the defensive all night. She was relentless. If her objective was to raise questions about Sanders and his record, she was very successful.

Sanders does angry and indignant almost as well as Donald Trump. But his anger was too often directed towards Clinton. Democrats aren’t, for the most part, angry with Clinton. They’re angry with Republicans and with a rigged economic and campaign finance system that works against the majority of citizens.

Martin O’Malley was, once again, a non-factor in this debate. In another cycle he might make an attractive candidate. But there’s no real space for his candidacy this year. Clinton and Sanders have staked out the main battle lines and have relegated O’Malley to the sidelines.

More broadly, Clinton spent the entire night trying to convince Democrats she was the heir to President Obama’s legacy. She made clear she is running for Obama’s third term. It’s a smart strategy because it serves the double-purpose of implying that Sanders is less friendly to Obama.

Clinton was effective, presidential and the clear winner of the debate.