Questions in Context: The 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary Debates - through CNN/Des Moines Register (1/14) - The ...
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Questions in Context:
The 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary Debates
- through CNN/Des Moines Register (1/14)
David Winston
Caitlin PeartreeOverview
In past presidential elections, the Winston Group has analyzed the primary and general election
debates to build a picture of how the topics covered interact with what voters have said — through
surveys and exit polls — are their greatest concerns and the issues that are the most important for
them in choosing for whom they will vote.
Here, we resume our analysis for the Democratic primary debates in anticipation of the general
election this fall. In the debates so far, topic areas such as social issues (a broad category including
guns, abortion, and race relations, as well as general division and polarization in the country) have
taken priority, with foreign policy and health care also emerging as priority topics in the debates
thus far.
This report will continue our analysis of question topics, candidate speaking times, and more, with
information from the previous six rounds of debates and the newest information from the CNN/Des
Moines Register January 14 debate. How well did the debates address the concerns and
questions of voters? Will the question priorities shift as the primaries continue? As the field of
candidates has shrunk, who will be asked the most questions and who will have the greatest
amount of speaking time?
Debate Topics
The chart on the next page shows the distribution of questions by topic area. For the purposes of
comparability, we re-use the same topic categories from our debate reports for the 2016
Republican primary and general election debates. The exception is the “Impeachment” category,
which is a new addition for the present Democratic primaries. We have also expanded the “Energy/
Environment” category to include questions on climate change.
Most of the topics are self explanatory, but for a few, definitions may be helpful. The “electability”
topic area includes questions addressed directly to a candidate about his/her ability to attract a
large portion of the electorate (for example, asking a candidate about his/her standing in the polls
or statements he/she made that have raised questions), while the “other candidates” topic area
refers to questions that directly ask one candidate about another candidate’s past, policies, or
prospects. The “For Fun” topic area includes lighthearted questions aimed at letting viewers see
more of a candidate’s personality. “Social Security/Retirement” consists of questions that address
that topic as a separate individual retirement benefit issue — other entitlements questions fall under
“Spending/National Debt.”
2Questions asked multiple times of different candidates are not counted more than once.
CNN/Des Moines Register January 14 Debate
General Topic Area Number of Questions Percentage of Questions
Economy 5 12.2%
Education 4 9.8%
Electability 10 24.4%
Energy/Environment/Climate
4 9.8%
Change
For Fun 0 0.0%
Foreign Policy/National Security 6 14.6%
Health care 4 9.8%
Immigration 0 0.0%
Impeachment 4 9.8%
Judicial System 0 0.0%
Other Candidates 2 4.9%
Presidential Priorities 1 2.4%
Social Issues 0 0.0%
Social Security/Retirement 0 0.0%
Spending/National Debt 1 2.4%
Total 41
3Total - All Debates
NBC/ NBC/ ABC/
CNN/New
MSNBC/ MSNBC/ Univision
CNN July 30 CNN July 31 York Times
General Telemundo Telemundo September
October 15
Topic Area June 26 June 27 12
# of % of # of % of # of % of # of % of # of % of # of % of
Qs Qs Qs Qs Qs Qs Qs Qs Qs Qs Qs Qs
Economy 5 14.3% 2 6.5% 1 2.9% 4 13.8% 2 5.4% 8 17.0%
Education 0 0.0% 2 6.5% 3 8.8% 0 0.0% 1 2.7% 0 0.0%
Electability 2 5.7% 1 3.2% 3 8.8% 2 6.9% 1 2.7% 5 10.6%
Energy/
Environment/
4 11.4% 4 12.9% 2 5.9% 3 10.3% 3 8.1% 0 0.0%
Climate
Change
For fun 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 1 2.1%
Foreign Policy/
National 6 17.1% 3 9.7% 4 11.8% 2 6.9% 5 13.5% 6 12.8%
Security
Health care 4 11.4% 5 16.1% 4 11.8% 7 24.1% 2 5.4% 4 8.5%
Immigration 3 8.6% 3 9.7% 4 11.8% 4 13.8% 6 16.2% 0 0.0%
Impeachment 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 10 21.3%
Judicial System 1 2.9% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 1 2.1%
Other
Candidates 2 5.7% 2 6.5% 6 17.7% 1 3.5% 2 5.4% 3 6.4%
Presidential
Priorities 1 2.9% 3 9.7% 0 0.0% 2 6.9% 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
Social Issues 7 20.0% 5 16.1% 7 20.6% 4 13.8% 15 40.5% 9 19.2%
Social Security/
0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
Retirement
Spending/
National Debt 0 0.0% 1 3.2% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
Total 35 31 34 29 37 47
4Total - All Debates, continued
MSNBC/ Politico/PBS CNN/Des Moines
Washington Post Newshour Register January Total - All Debates
General Topic Area November 20 December 19 14
# of Qs % of Qs # of Qs % of Qs # of Qs % of Qs # of Qs % of Qs
Economy 1 2.7% 2 6.3% 5 12.2% 30 9.3%
Education 0 0.0% 2 6.3% 4 9.8% 12 3.7%
Electability 3 8.1% 2 6.3% 10 24.4% 29 9.0%
Energy/Environment/
1 2.7% 3 9.4% 4 9.8% 24 7.4%
Climate Change
For fun 0 0.0% 1 3.1% 0 0.0% 2 0.6%
Foreign Policy/
National Security 6 16.2% 8 25.0% 6 14.6% 46 14.2%
Health care 2 5.4% 1 3.1% 4 9.8% 33 10.2%
Immigration 1 2.7% 3 9.4% 0 0.0% 24 7.4%
Impeachment 4 10.8% 1 3.1% 4 9.8% 19 5.9%
Judicial System 0 0.0% 2 6.3% 0 0.0% 4 1.2%
Other Candidates 3 8.1% 0 0.0% 2 4.9% 21 6.5%
Presidential Priorities 2 5.4% 1 3.1% 1 2.4% 10 3.1%
Social Issues 13 35.1% 6 18.8% 0 0.0% 66 20.4%
Social Security/
Retirement 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
Spending/National
Debt 1 2.7% 0 0.0% 1 2.4% 3 0.9%
Total 37 32 41 323
5Topic Subcategories
Because of the potentially broad nature of some of the question categories, some additional
clarification may be helpful. “Social issues” for example, comprises about a fifth of all questions
asked, but could include a variety of subcategories, such as abortion, guns, or race. The economy
is similarly broad, here generally comprising questions on trade/tariffs, income inequality, and jobs/
automation, including others. Within the economy, questions about taxes include both questions
about taxes on the middle class and raising the top tax rate on the wealthy.
Total - All Debates
Economy Subtopics
# of Qs % of Qs (subtopic) % of Qs (overall)
Trade/tariffs 12 40.0% 3.7%
Income Inequality 5 16.7% 1.6%
Jobs/Automation/Displacement 5 16.7% 1.6%
Big plans a risk to the economy 3 10.0% 0.9%
Breaking up big tech 3 10.0% 0.9%
Taxes 2 6.7% 0.6%
Total 30
Total - All Debates
Social Issues Subtopics
# of Qs % of Qs (subtopic) % of Qs (overall)
Guns 20 30.3% 6.2%
Race/racism (including criminal justice reform) 20 30.3% 6.2%
Gender issues (pay gap, paid family leave,
MeToo, LGBTQ issues) 6 9.1% 1.9%
Partisan Gridlock/Division in the Country 6 9.1% 1.9%
Abortion 5 7.6% 1.5%
Opioids 4 6.1% 1.2%
Affordable Housing 1 1.5% 0.3%
Americans with disabilities 1 1.5% 0.3%
Serving in the military 1 1.5% 0.3%
Social media and disinformation 1 1.5% 0.3%
Voting rights/equal access to ballot box 1 1.5% 0.3%
Total 66
6To Whom Were Questions Directed?
“Number of Questions” refers to questions directed by a moderator at a particular candidate and
includes questions that were asked of all candidates - so totals may differ from the charts above.
“Number of Rebuttals” includes any times the moderator addressed a follow-up or rebuttal
opportunity to a candidate, or a candidate broke in and gave a rebuttal to another candidate's
answer on their own initiative.
“Percentage of Direct Questions” a candidate received comes from only questions directly
addressed to a candidate or those addressed to all candidates, while “Percentage of Answers”
includes all opportunities a candidate had to speak, including rebuttals, as described above. The
“Percentage of Answers” comes out of the total of all answers given — not the total questions
asked — so once again, the totals differ.
All Previous
CNN/Des Moines Register January 14 Total - All Debates
Debates
Candidate Total Total %
Direct Total Direct Total % of % of Total Total
Rebuttals % of of
Qs Answers Qs Answers Qs Answers Qs Answers
Qs Answers
Biden 51 94 9 9 18 16.1% 20.0% 60 10.7% 112 12.5%
Sanders 45 86 11 6 17 19.6% 18.9% 56 10.0% 103 11.5%
Warren 40 82 10 6 16 17.9% 17.8% 50 8.9% 98 10.9%
Buttigieg 47 73 10 5 15 17.9% 16.7% 57 10.1% 88 9.8%
Klobuchar 39 57 8 5 13 14.3% 14.4% 47 8.4% 70 7.8%
Harris 34 53 - - 0 - - 34 6.0% 53 5.9%
Booker 36 48 - - 0 - - 36 6.4% 48 5.4%
Yang 34 42 - - 0 - - 34 6.0% 42 4.7%
O’Rourke 28 41 - - 0 - - 28 5.0% 41 4.6%
Castro 27 36 - - 0 - - 27 4.8% 36 4.0%
Gabbard 23 32 - - 0 - - 23 4.1% 32 3.6%
Steyer 14 20 8 3 11 14.3% 12.2% 22 3.9% 31 3.5%
Bennet 12 17 - - 0 - - 12 2.1% 17 1.9%
Gillibrand 12 17 - - 0 - - 12 2.1% 17 1.9%
Delaney 8 17 - - 0 - - 8 1.4% 17 1.9%
Ryan 10 16 - - 0 - - 10 1.8% 16 1.8%
7All Previous
CNN/Des Moines Register January 14 Total - All Debates
Debates
Candidate Total Total %
Direct Total Direct Total % of % of Total Total
Rebuttals % of of
Qs Answers Qs Answers Qs Answers Qs Answers
Qs Answers
De Blasio 9 16 - - 0 - - 9 1.6% 16 1.8%
Hickenloo
9 16 - - 0 - - 9 1.6% 16 1.8%
per
Inslee 11 13 - - 0 - - 11 2.0% 13 1.5%
Williamson 9 12 - - 0 - - 9 1.6% 12 1.3%
Bullock 4 12 - - 0 - - 4 0.7% 12 1.3%
Swalwell 5 7 - - 0 - - 5 0.9% 7 0.8%
Total 507 807 56 34 90 563 897
8Candidate Speaking Times
The speaking times for the debates listed in the chart below are taken from the New York Times.
NBC/Telemundo, June 26 - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/26/us/elections/debate-
speaking-time.html; NBC/Telemundo, June 27 - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/27/
us/elections/debate-speaking-time.html; CNN, July 30 - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/
2019/07/30/us/elections/debate-speaking-time.html; CNN, July 31 - https://www.nytimes.com/
interactive/2019/07/31/us/elections/debate-speaking-time.html; ABC/Univision, September 12 -
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/09/12/us/elections/debate-speaking-time.html; CNN/
New York Times, October 15 - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/10/15/us/elections/
d e b a t e - s p e a k i n g - t i m e . h t m l ?
action=click&module=STYLN_menu_election_live&pgtype=Article®ion=header; MSNBC/
Washington Post, November 20 - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/11/20/us/elections/
debate-speaking-time.html; Politico/PBS Newshour December 19 - https://www.nytimes.com/
interactive/2019/12/19/us/elections/debate-speaking-time.html; CNN/Des Moines Register
January 14 - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/01/14/us/politics/debate-speaking-
time.html.
NBC/
CNN/Des
MSNBC/ ABC/ MSNBC/ Politico/
CNN CNN/NYT Moines
Candidate Telemundo Univision WaPo PBS Total
July 30, 31 Oct 15 Register
June 26, Sept 12 Nov 20 Dec 19
Jan 14
27
Warren 9:31 18:33 16:37 22:47 13:29 19:36 18:59 119:32
Biden 13:19 21:27 17:22 16:39 12:48 15:28 16:22 113:25
Sanders 10:58 17:45 13:55 13:04 11:47 20:30 17:51 105:50
Buttigieg 11:21 14:07 11:35 13:01 12:56 19:33 16:45 99:18
Klobuchar 8:27 10:49 10:26 13:18 10:58 19:53 17:36 91:27
Harris 12:16 17:18 13:36 12:23 11:31 - - 67:04
Booker 11:06 13:05 14:46 11:40 11:32 - - 62:09
Yang 2:58 8:53 7:58 8:32 6:48 10:56 - 46:05
O’Rourke 10:33 10:58 9:25 13:09 - - - 44:05
Steyer - - - 7:13 8:24 11:50 12:37 40:04
Castro 8:47 10:37 11:04 8:26 - - - 38:54
Gabbard 6:39 10:47 - 8:24 9:12 - - 35:02
Bennet 9:22 10:31 - - - - - 19:53
9NBC/
CNN/Des
MSNBC/ ABC/ MSNBC/ Politico/
CNN CNN/NYT Moines
Candidate Telemundo Univision WaPo PBS Total
July 30, 31 Oct 15 Register
June 26, Sept 12 Nov 20 Dec 19
Jan 14
27
Gillibrand 7:34 11:25 - - - - - 18:59
Ryan 7:41 9:47 - - - - - 17:28
Delaney 6:45 10:31 - - - - - 17:16
Inslee 5:05 10:48 - - - - - 15:53
de Blasio 5:54 9:17 - - - - - 15:11
Hickenlooper 5:08 8:49 - - - - - 13:57
Williamson 4:58 8:52 - - - - - 13:50
Bullock - 10:59 - - - - - 10:59
Swalwell 4:43 - - - - - - 04:43
10Conclusion
In the last debate before the Iowa caucuses, electability was the clear front-runner in the line-up of
topics, comprising nearly a quarter (24%) of all questions asked in that debate. Foreign policy/
national security came next at 15%, followed by questions about the economy (12%), particularly
trade and the revised US-Canada-Mexico agreement, which the House had passed a month prior
and which was scheduled for a vote in the Senate two days after the debate.
Absent from the lineup of topics in the CNN/Des Moines Register January 14 debate was social
issues. Nevertheless, looking across all the debates (including the January 14 debate), social
issues has been the most asked-about topic, comprising one in five (20%) of all questions asked.
Of course, “social issues” is a wide topic area, encompassing many potential subtopics. Within
social issues and across the debates, the topics of guns and race clearly dominated. Overall, they
have comprised almost one-third (30%) each of all social issues questions asked and 6% of all
questions asked in any category. This puts them on par with impeachment (6%) and ahead of
issues like education (4%) the judicial system (1%), spending/national debt (1%), and Social
Security/retirement, about which there have been no questions asked to date.
Returning to the broad categories across all debates, foreign policy/national security has been the
second most asked-about topic (14%), followed by questions about health care (10%). In the tier
below this 10% threshold were topics such as the economy (9%, and within which the most
represented subtopic is trade/tariffs), immigration (7%) and energy and the environment (7%).
Topics such as electability (9%) and other candidates (7%) have also risen in the ranks as the
candidate field narrows and the primaries and caucuses draw closer.
The next question, then, is how well these issue priorities reflect voters’ actual issue priorities. From
the most recent Winning the Issues (January 21-22, 2020), health care and prescription drugs
emerged as voters’ top issue in deciding how they will vote for Congress, with 19% selecting it
from a list of issues. The economy/jobs was a close second at 18%, and these issues have
consistently occupied the top two slots of the key issues determining how voters will cast their
ballot. Social Security/retirement (which has not been asked about at all in the debates to date)
was another key priority, with 11% selecting it as their top issue. Other important issues included
immigration (10%), and the environment/climate change (7%).
To be sure, the distribution of debate topics will never perfectly align to voter concerns, as an
equally important function of the debates is to serve as a way for candidates to demonstrate
competency in a variety of topics and make the case for their candidacy. Primary debates,
11especially given a large field of candidates, have still another important function: allowing
candidates the opportunity to distinguish themselves from other candidates with whom, at first
glance, it may seem they share many similarities.
12Appendix - Democrat Primary Debate Questions
Debate To Whom (or Question
Number— to whom it Topic
Location Question Asker was directed
— Date— by
Sponsors moderator)
1A — Miami You have many plans — free college, free child care, government health
— June 26, care, cancellation of student debt, new taxes, new regulations, the
2019 — breakup of major corporations. But this comes at a time when 71 Savannah Elizabeth
Economy
NBC, percent of Americans say the economy is doing well, including 60 Guthrie Warren
MSNBC, percent of Democrats. What do you say to those who worry this kind of
Telemundo significant change could be risky to the economy?
1A — Miami Senator Klobuchar, you've called programs like free college something
— June 26, you might do if you were, quote, “a magic genie.” To be blunt, are the
2019 — government programs and benefits that some of your rivals are offering Savannah Amy Other
NBC, giving your voters, people, a false sense of what's actually achievable? Guthrie Klobuchar candidates
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1A — Miami Congressman O'Rourke, what we've just been discussing and talking
— June 26, about is how much fundamental change to the economy is desirable
2019 — and how much is actually doable. In that vein, some Democrats want a Savannah
NBC, Beto O’Rourke Economy
marginal individual tax rate of 70 percent on the very highest earners, Guthrie
MSNBC, those making more than $10 million a year. Would you support that?
Telemundo And if not, what would your top individual rate be?
1A — Miami Senator Booker, there is a debate in this party right now about the role
— June 26, of corporations, as you know. Senator Warren in particular put out a
2019 — Cory Booker;
plan to break up tech companies like Facebook, Amazon, and Google. Savannah
NBC, Elizabeth Economy
You’ve said we should not, quote, “be running around pointing at Guthrie
MSNBC, Warren
companies and breaking them up without any kind of process.” Why
Telemundo do you disagree? …
1A — Miami Democrats have been talking about the pay gap for decades. What
— June 26, would you do to ensure that women are paid fairly in this country?
2019 — Julian Castro,
Lester Holt Social issues
NBC, Tulsi Gabbard
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1A — Miami You’re the mayor of the biggest city in the United States, but it’s also
— June 26, one of the cities in the country with the greatest bap between the
Bill De Blasio,
2019 — wealthy and the poor. How would you address income inequality? Jose Diaz-
John Delaney, Economy
NBC, Balart
Jay Inslee
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1A — Miami So, Congressman Ryan, President Trump, and you just referred to him,
— June 26, promise of manufacturing jobs were all coming back to places like your
Tim Ryan,
2019 — home state of Ohio. Can you make that same promise? Jose Diaz-
Elizabeth Economy
NBC, Balart
Warren
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1A — Miami Many people watching at home have health insurance coverage
— June 26, through their employer. Who here would abolish their private health
2019 — insurance in favor of a government-run plan? Lester Holt All candidates Health care
NBC,
MSNBC,
Telemundo
13Debate To Whom (or Question
Number— to whom it Topic
Location Question Asker was directed
— Date— by
Sponsors moderator)
1A — Miami You're one of the Democrats who wants to keep private insurance in
— June 26, addition to a government health care plan. Why is an incremental
2019 — approach in your view better than a sweeping overhaul? Amy
Lester Holt Health care
NBC, Klobuchar
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1A — Miami Senator Warren, you signed on to Bernie Sanders’ Medicare-for-all
— June 26, plan. It would put essentially everybody on Medicare and then eliminate
2019 — private plans that offer similar coverage. Is that the plan or path that Elizabeth
Lester Holt Health care
NBC, you would pursue as president? Warren
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1A — Miami Congressman O'Rourke, when you ran for Senate, you also praised a Beto
— June 26, bill that would replace private insurance. This year, you’re saying you’re O’Rourke;
2019 — no longer sure. Can you explain why? Tulsi Gabbard,
NBC, Lester Holt Health care
Cory Booker,
MSNBC, Amy
Telemundo Klobuchar
1A — Miami Secretary Castro, this one is for you. All of you on stage support a
— June 26, woman's right to an abortion. You all support some version of a Julian Castro,
2019 — government health care option. Would your plan cover abortion, Mr. Lester Holt Elizabeth Social issues
NBC, Secretary? Warren
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1A — Miami Senator Booker, I want to kind of come back on a discussion we were
— June 26, having about health and the opioid crisis. You represent a state where
2019 — 14 of the 20 largest pharmaceutical companies are based. Should Jose Diaz- Cory Booker,
Social issues
NBC, pharmaceutical companies that manufacture these drugs be held Balart Beto O’Rourke
MSNBC, criminally liable for what they do?
Telemundo
1A — Miami We want to turn to an issue that has been in the news, especially this
— June 26, week. There are undocumented children being held alone in detention,
2019 — even as close as Homestead, Florida, right here, less than 30 miles
NBC, from where we are tonight. Fathers and mothers and children are dying Julian Castro,
MSNBC, while trying to enter the United States of American. We saw that image Jose Diaz- Cory Booker,
Telemundo Immigration
today that broke our hearts, and they had names. Oscar Martinez and Balart Bill De Blasio,
his 23-month-old daughter, Valeria, died trying to cross the river to ask Beto O’Rourke
for asylum in this country. Last month, more than 130,000 migrants
were apprehended at the southern border. Secretary Castro, if you
were president today, how, what would you specifically do?
1A — Miami Let's talk about what Secretary Castro just said. He wants to no longer
— June 26, have it be a crime to illegally cross the border. Do you support that? Do Amy
2019 — you think it should be a civil offense only? And if so, do you worry Savannah
Klobuchar, Tim Immigration
NBC, about potentially incentivizing people to come here? Guthrie
Ryan
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1A — Miami Senator Booker -- a lot of people -- they asked the question, if you’re
— June 26, president on day one, what will you do with the fact that you will have
2019 — families here? There’s been a lot of talk about what you’ll do in the first Savannah Cory Booker,
Immigration
NBC, 100 days about legislation. What will you actually do with these Guthrie Jay Inslee
MSNBC, families? How will you care for them? Will they be detained or will they
Telemundo not be?
14Debate To Whom (or Question
Number— to whom it Topic
Location Question Asker was directed
— Date— by
Sponsors moderator)
1A — Miami We're going to -- we're going to talk about Iran right now, because
— June 26, we're working against the clock. Tankers have been attacked. A U.S.
2019 — drone has been shot down. There have been disturbing threats issued
NBC, by both the U.S. and Iranian leadership. I'd like if you can, just for a All candidates,
Lester Holt Foreign policy
MSNBC, moment, to put aside how you think we may have gotten here, but Cory Booker
Telemundo what I want to know is, how do you dial it back? So a show of hands.
Who as president would sign on to the 2015 nuclear deal as it was
originally negotiated? That's every -- well, Senator Booker, why not?
1A — Miami All right, Senator Klobuchar, I'd like to ask you to answer that question,
— June 26, because you've said -- you've said you would negotiate yourself back
2019 — into the Iranian agreement. Can you argue that that nuclear pact as it Amy
Lester Holt Foreign policy
NBC, was ratified was a good deal? Klobuchar
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1A — Miami Congresswoman Gabbard, Congresswoman Gabbard, you've said you
— June 26, would sign back on to the 2015 deal. Would you -- would you insist,
2019 — though, that it address Iran's support for Hezbollah? Lester Holt Tulsi Gabbard Foreign policy
NBC,
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1A — Miami Senator Warren, we're going to get to the gun question here. In
— June 26, Parkland, Florida, it's just north of here in Broward County. As you
2019 — know, it has created a lot of teenage activism on the gun issue. It has
NBC, inspired a lot of you to come out with more robust plans to deal with Chuck Elizabeth
MSNBC, Social issues
guns, including assault weapons ban, but even if you're able to Todd Warren
Telemundo implement that, what do you do about the hundreds of millions of guns
already out there? And does the federal government have to play a role
in dealing with it?
1A — Miami Senator Booker, you have a federal government buyback program in
— June 26, your plan. How is that going to work?
2019 — Chuck
Cory Booker Social issues
NBC, Todd
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1A — Miami As parents are so afraid as their kids go off to school that their kids will
— June 26, be caught up in something like this, next to nothing has changed in
2019 — federal law that might affect the prevalence of school shootings. Is this Rachel Julian Castro,
NBC, Social issues
a problem that is going to continue to get worse over our lifetimes? Or Maddow Tim Ryan
MSNBC, is there something that you would do as president that you really think
Telemundo would turn it around?
1A — Miami Congressman O'Rourke, you're a Texan who's campaigned -- you
— June 26, campaigned all over the state in 2018 in the most conservative parts
2019 — Beto
there. What do you tell a gun owner who may agree with you on
NBC, Chuck O’Rourke,
everything else, OK, but says, you know what, the Democrats, if I vote Social issues
MSNBC, Todd Amy
for them in there, they're going to take my gun away, and even though I
Telemundo Klobuchar
agree with you on all these other issues -- how do you have that
conversation?
1A — Miami Senator Mitch McConnell says that his most consequential Cory Booker,
— June 26, achievement as Senate majority leader was preventing President Bill De Blasio,
2019 — Obama from filling a Supreme Court seat. Having served with Rachel Judicial
Elizabeth
NBC, Republicans on the Judiciary Committee, do you believe they would Maddow system
Warren, John
MSNBC, confirm your court nominees? Delaney
Telemundo
15Debate To Whom (or Question
Number— to whom it Topic
Location Question Asker was directed
— Date— by
Sponsors moderator)
1A — Miami You have staked your candidacy on the issue of climate change. It is
— June 26, first, second, and third priority for you. You've said it's all the issues. Energy/
2019 — Let's get specific. We're here in Miami, which is already experiencing Rachel Environment/
Jay Inslee
NBC, serious flooding on sunny days as a result of sea level rise. Parts of Maddow Climate
MSNBC, Miami Beach and the Keys could be underwater in our lifetimes. Does Change
Telemundo your plan save Miami?
1A — Miami Congressman O'Rourke, you also put out a big climate change plan
— June 26, from your campaign. You want some big changes in a pretty short
2019 — Energy/
period of time, including switching to renewable energy, pushing to
NBC, Environment/
replace gas-powered cars in favor of electric ones. What's your Chuck Todd Beto O’Rourke
MSNBC, Climate
message to a voter who supports the overall goal of what you're trying
Telemundo Change
to do, but suddenly feels as if government's telling them how to live
and ordering them how to live? What is that balance like?
1A — Miami Thirty seconds, Secretary Castro, does -- who pays for the mitigation
— June 26, to -- to climate, whether it's building sea walls, for people that are
2019 — Energy/
perhaps living in places that they shouldn't be living? Is this a federal
NBC, Environment/
government issue that needs to do that? Do they have to move these Chuck Todd Julian Castro
MSNBC, Climate
people? What do you do about that, where maybe they're building a
Telemundo Change
place someplace that isn't safe? Who pays to build that house? And
how much should the government be bailing them out?
1A — Miami Congressman Ryan, I got a full question for you here, which is simply
— June 26, this. There are -- a lot of the climate plans include pricing carbon,
2019 — taxing carbon in some way. This type of proposal has been tried in a Energy/
NBC, few places, whether it’s Washington state where voters voted it down, Environment/
MSNBC, Chuck Todd Tim Ryan
you’ve had the Yellow Vest Movement, we had in Australia one party Climate
Telemundo get rejected out of fear of the cost of climate change sort of being put Change
on the backs of the consumer. If pricing carbon is just politically
impossible, how do we pay for climate mitigation?
1A — Miami Congresswoman Gabbard, we're going to move here. One of the first
— June 26, things you did after launching your campaign was to issue an apology
2019 — to the LGBT community about your past stances and statements on
NBC, gay rights. After the Trump administration's rollbacks of civil rights Chuck Todd Tulsi Gabbard Electability
MSNBC, protections for many in that community, why should voters in that
Telemundo community or voters that care about this issue in general trust you
now?
1A — Miami Senator Klobuchar, let me put this to you. On the issue of civil rights,
— June 26, for decades -- on the civil rights and demographics, honestly, and
2019 — politics, for decades, the Democratic Party has counted on African-
NBC, Amy
American voter turnout as step one to winning elections on a national Rachel
MSNBC, Klobuchar, Electability
level. Democrats are counting on the Latino community now and in the Maddow
Telemundo Julian Castro
future in the same way. What have you done for black and Latino
voters that should enthuse them about going to the polls for you if
you're your party's nominee?
1A — Miami Does the United States have a responsibility to protect in the case of
— June 26, genocide or crimes against humanity? Do we have a responsibility to
2019 — intervene to protect people threatened by their governments even Viewer Beto O’Rourke Foreign policy
NBC, when atrocities do not affect American core interests?
MSNBC,
Telemundo
16Debate To Whom (or Question
Number— to whom it Topic
Location Question Asker was directed
— Date— by
Sponsors moderator)
1A — Miami Today the Taliban claimed responsibility for killing two American service
— June 26, members in Afghanistan. Leaders as disparate as President Obama
2019 — and President Trump have both said that they want to end U.S. Rachel Tim Ryan,
Foreign policy
NBC, involvement in Afghanistan, but it isn’t over for America. Why isn’t it Maddow Tulsi Gabbard
MSNBC, over? Why can’t presidents of very different parties and very different
Telemundo temperaments get us out of there? And how could you?
1A — Miami What is our -- what is the biggest threat -- what is -- who is the
— June 26, geopolitical threat to the United States?
2019 —
Chuck Todd All candidates Foreign policy
NBC,
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1A — Miami Congressman O'Rourke, Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report
— June 26, outlines multiple instances of potential criminal behavior by President
2019 — Trump. House Speaker Pelosi has publicly and privately resisted any Presidential
NBC, Chuck Todd O’Rourke
move toward impeachment in the House. If the House chooses not to priorities
MSNBC, impeach, as president, would you do anything to address the potential
Telemundo crimes that were outlined in Mr. Mueller's report?
1A — Miami Congressman Delaney, because of the accountability issues that
— June 26, Congressman O'Rourke was just describing there and the real political
2019 — landscape in which Nancy Pelosi is saying that impeachment will not
NBC, be pursued in the House, it raises the prospect -- and the Mueller Rachel Other
MSNBC, John Delaney
Report raises the prospect that President Trump could be prosecuted Maddow candidates
Telemundo for some of those potential crimes down the line. No U.S. president has
ever been prosecuted for crimes after leaving office. Do you believe
that President Trump could or should be the first?
1B — Miami You've called for big, new government benefits, like universal health
— June 27, care and free college. In a recent interview, you said you suspected that
2019 — Americans would be, quote, “delighted” to pay more taxes for things Savannah Bernie
Economy
NBC, like that. My question to you is, will taxes go up for the middle class in a Guthrie Sanders
MSNBC, Sanders administration? And if so, how do you sell that to voters?
Telemundo
1B — Miami Vice President Biden, Senator Sanders, as you know, has been calling
— June 27, for a revolution. Recently in remarks to a group of wealthy donors, as
2019 — you were speaking about problem of income inequality in this country, Savannah
NBC, Joe Biden Economy
you said we shouldn't, quote, “demonize the rich.” You said, “Nobody Guthrie
MSNBC, has to be punished. No one's standard of living would change. Nothing
Telemundo would fundamentally change.” What did you mean by that?
1B — Miami There's is a lot of talk in this primary about new government benefits,
— June 27, such as student loan cancellation, free college, health care, and more.
2019 — Do you think that Democrats have a responsibility to explain how they Savannah
Kamala Harris Spending
NBC, will pay for every proposal they make along those lines? Guthrie
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1B — Miami Governor Hickenlooper, let me get you in on this. You’ve warned that John
— June 27, Democrats will lose in 2020 if they “embrace socialism,” as you put it. Hickenlooper;
2019 — You were booed at the California Democratic convention when you said Savannah Bernie Other
NBC, that. Only one candidate on this stage, Senator Sanders, identifies Guthrie Sanders, candidates
MSNBC, himself as a democratic socialist. What are the policies or positions of Kirsten
Telemundo your opponents that you think are veering towards “socialism”? Gillibrand
17Debate To Whom (or Question
Number— to whom it Topic
Location Question Asker was directed
— Date— by
Sponsors moderator)
1B — Miami Senator Bennet, you have said, quote, “It’s possible to write policy
— June 27, proposals that have no basis in reality. You might as well call them
2019 — candy. Were you referring to any candidate or proposal in particular Savannah Michael Other
NBC, when you said that? Guthrie Bennet candidates
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1B — Miami Many of your colleagues onstage support free college. You do not. Why
— June 27, not?
2019 — Jose Diaz-
Pete Buttigieg Education
NBC, Balart
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1B — Miami Mr. Yang, your — your signature policy is to give every adult in the
— June 27, United States $1,000 a month, no questions asked. … I think that’s like
2019 — $3.2 trillion a year. How would do you that? Jose Diaz- Presidential
Andrew Yang
NBC, Balart priorities
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1B — Miami Congressman Swalwell, I want to talk a little bit about what Mr. Yang is
— June 27, talking about, and you just actually mentioned, that many Americans Eric Swalwell;
2019 — are worried about things like self-driving cars, robots, drones, artificial Jose Diaz-
Joe Biden, Education
NBC, intelligence will cost them their jobs. What would you do to help people Balart
Kamala Harris
MSNBC, get the skills they need to adapt to this new world?
Telemundo
1B — Miami We asked a question about health care last night that spurred a lot of All candidates;
— June 27, discussion, as you know. We're going to do it again now. Many people Kristen
2019 — watching at home have health insurance through their employer. Who Lester Holt Gillibrand, Health care
NBC, here would abolish their private health insurance in favorite of a Pete Buttigieg,
MSNBC, government-run plan? Joe Biden
Telemundo
1B — Miami Senator Sanders, you have basically — you basically want to scrap the
— June 27, private health insurance system as we know it and replace it with a
2019 — government-run plan. None of the states that have tried something like Bernie
NBC, Lester Holt Health care
that, California, Vermont, New York has struggled with it, have been Sanders
MSNBC, successful. If politicians can’t make it in those states, how would you
Telemundo implement it on a national level? How does this work?
1B — Miami We've been talking a lot about access to health insurance. But for
— June 27, many Americans, their most pressing concern is the high cost of health
2019 — care. How would you lower the cost of prescription drugs? Marianne
Lester Holt Health care
NBC, Williamson
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1B — Miami Senator Bennet, a question for you. You want to keep the system that
— June 27, we have in place with Obamacare and build on it. You mentioned that a Michael
2019 — moment ago. Is that enough to get us to universal coverage? Bennet; Bernie
Lester Holt Health care
NBC, Sanders,
MSNBC, Kamala Harris
Telemundo
1B — Miami A lot of you have been talking tonight about these government health
— June 27, care plans that you have proposed in one form or another. This is a All candidates;
2019 — show of hands question, and hold them up for a moment so people Savannah
Pete Buttigieg, Health care
NBC, can see. Raise your hand if your government plan would provide Guthrie
Joe Biden
MSNBC, coverage for undocumented immigrants.
Telemundo
18Debate To Whom (or Question
Number— to whom it Topic
Location Question Asker was directed
— Date— by
Sponsors moderator)
1B — Miami On January 20th, 2021, if you are president, what specifically would Kamala Harris,
— June 27, you do with the thousands of people who try to reach the United States John
2019 — every day and want a better life through asylum? Hickenlooper,
Jose Diaz-
NBC, Marianne Immigration
Balart
MSNBC, Williamson,
Telemundo Kirsten
Gillibrand
1B — Miami We had a very spirited debate on this stage last night on the topic of
— June 27, decriminalization of the border. If you’d be so kind, raise your hand if
2019 — you think it should be a civil offense rather than a crime to cross the Jose Diaz- All candidates;
Immigration
NBC, border without documentation? Can we keep the hands up so we Balart Joe Biden
MSNBC, could see them?
Telemundo
1B — Miami The Obama-Biden administration deported more than 3 million
— June 27, Americans. My question to you is, if an individual is living in the United Joe Biden,
2019 — States of America without documents, and that is his only offense, Jose Diaz-
Eric Swalwell, Immigration
NBC, should that person be deported? Balart
Kamala Harris
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1B — Miami Last night, we asked the candidates on this stage to name the greatest
— June 27, geopolitical threat facing the U.S. Four of them mentioned China. U.S. Michael
2019 — businesses say China steals our intellectual property and party leaders Bennet,
NBC, Lester Holt Foreign policy
on both sides accuse China of manipulating their currency to keep the Andrew Yang,
MSNBC, cost of goods artificially low. I want to ask this to Senator Bennet, to Pete Buttigieg
Telemundo start off with. How would you stand up to China?
1B — Miami In the last five years, civil rights activists in our country have led a
— June 27, national debate over race and the criminal justice system. Your
2019 — community of South Bend, Indiana, has recently been in uproar over an Rachel
Pete Buttigieg Social Issues
NBC, officer-involved shooting. The police force in South Bend is now 6 Maddow
MSNBC, percent black in a city that is 26 percent black. Why has that not
Telemundo improved over your two terms as mayor?
1B — Miami Senator Sanders, Senator Sanders, I'm going to go to you on this. You
— June 27, said on the day you launched your campaign that voters should focus
2019 — on what people stand for, not a candidate's race or age or sexual Bernie
NBC, orientation. Many Democrats are very excited by the diversity of this Sanders,
MSNBC, Chuck Todd Electability
field on this stage and on last night's stage and the perspective that Kristen
Telemundo diversity brings to this contest and to these issues. … Are you telling Gillibrand
Democratic voters that diversity shouldn't matter when they make this
decision?
1B — Miami On the issue of partisan gridlock, President Obama promised in 2012
— June 27, that after his reelection, Republicans would want to work with
2019 — Democrats, fever would break. That did not happen. Now Vice
NBC, President Biden is saying the same thing, that if he is elected in 2020, Michael
MSNBC, both parties will want to work together. Should voters believe that Chuck Todd Bennet; Joe Social issues
Telemundo somehow if there is a Democratic president in 2021 that gridlock is Biden
going to magically disappear? … Vice President Biden, 30 seconds.
What — it does sound as if you haven't seen what's been happening in
the United States Senate over the last 12 years. It didn't happen. Why?
19Debate To Whom (or Question
Number— to whom it Topic
Location Question Asker was directed
— Date— by
Sponsors moderator)
1B — Miami Roe v. Wade has been the law of the land since 1973. Now that there
— June 27, is a conservative majority on the Supreme Court, several Republican-
2019 — controlled states have passed laws to severely restrict or even ban Rachel Bernie
Social issues
NBC, abortion. One of those laws could very well make it to the Supreme Maddow Sanders
MSNBC, Court during your presidency, if you're elected president. What is your
Telemundo plan if Roe is struck down in the court while you're president?
1B — Miami Senator Harris, I'm addressing you first on this. You live in a state that
— June 27, has been hit by drought, wildfires, flooding. Climate change is a major Energy/
2019 — concern for voters in your state, that's pretty obvious, obviously this Environment/
Chuck Todd Kamala Harris
NBC, state as well. … Last night voters heard many of the candidates weigh Climate
MSNBC, in on their proposals. Explain specifically what yours is. Change
Telemundo
1B — Miami Mayor Buttigieg, in your climate plan, if you are elected president, in
— June 27, your first term, how is this going to help farmers impacted by climate Energy/
2019 — change in the Midwest? Environment/
Chuck Todd Pete Buttigieg
NBC, Climate
MSNBC, Change
Telemundo
1B — Miami Governor, you have said that oil and gas companies should be a part of
— June 27, the solution on climate change. Lots of your colleagues onstage tonight Energy/
2019 — have talked about moving away from fossil fuels entirely. Can oil and Rachel John Environment/
NBC, gas companies be real partners in this fight? Maddow Hickenlooper Climate
MSNBC, Change
Telemundo
1B — Miami On the issue of how you do this, Democrats are arguing robustly
— June 27, among themselves about what's the best way to tackle climate Energy/
2019 — change. But if we're honest, many Republicans, including the Rachel Environment/
NBC, Joe Biden
president, are still not sure if they believe it is even a serious problem. Maddow Climate
MSNBC, So are there significant ways you can cut carbon emissions if you have Change
Telemundo to do it with no support from Congress?
1B — Miami President Obama in his first year wanted to address both health care
— June 27, and climate. And he could only get one signature issue accomplished;
2019 — it was, obviously, health care. He didn't get to do climate change. You Presidential
NBC, Chuck Todd All candidates
may only get one shot, and your first issue that you're going to push, priorities
MSNBC, you get one shot that it may be the only thing you get passed, what is
Telemundo that first issue for your presidency.
1B — Miami Congressman Swalwell, among this field of candidates, you have a
— June 27, unique position on gun reform. You're proposing that the government
2019 — should buy back every assault weapon in America and it should be Rachel
Eric Swalwell Social issues
NBC, mandatory. How do you envision that working, especially in states Maddow
MSNBC, where gun rights are a strong flash point?
Telemundo
1B — Miami Senator Sanders, a Vermont newspaper recently released portions of Bernie
— June 27, an interview you gave in 2013 in which you said: “My own view on guns Sanders,
2019 — is, everything being equal, states should make those decisions.” … Has Rachel Kamala Harris, Social issues
NBC, your thinking changed since then? Do you now think there is a federal Maddow
Pete Buttigieg,
MSNBC, role to play? Joe Biden
Telemundo
20Debate To Whom (or Question
Number— to whom it Topic
Location Question Asker was directed
— Date— by
Sponsors moderator)
1B — Miami Many fear the current administration has inflicted irrevocable harm on
— June 27, our governing institutions and norms and the process on our reputation
2019 — abroad. The question is, what do you see as important early steps in Michael Presidential
Viewer
NBC, reversing the damage done? Bennet priorities
MSNBC,
Telemundo
1B — Miami You're likely going to have to reset a relationship between America and
— June 27, another country or entity if you become president because of some —
2019 — perhaps because of some relationship that you just mentioned about Chuck Todd All candidates Foreign policy
NBC, President Trump. What is the first relationship you would like to reset as
MSNBC, president?
Telemundo
1B — Miami You made your decades of experience in foreign policy a pillar of your
— June 27, campaign, but when the time came to say yes or no on one of the
2019 — Joe Biden;
most consequential foreign policy decisions of the last century, you Rachel
NBC, Bernie Foreign policy
voted for the Iraq War. You have since said you regret that vote. But Maddow
MSNBC, Sanders
why should voters trust your judgment when it comes to making a
Telemundo decision about taking the country to war the next time?
2A — You support Medicare for all, which would eventually take private health
Detroit — Bernie
insurance away from more than 150 million Americans, in exchange for
July 30, Sanders; John
government-sponsored health care for everyone. Congressman Other
2019 — Jake Tapper Delaney,
Delaney just referred to it as bad policy. And previously, he has called candidates
CNN Elizabeth
the idea "political suicide that will just get President Trump re-elected."
Warren
What do you say to Congressman Delaney?
2A — At the last debate, you said you’re, quote, “with Bernie on Medicare for
Detroit — all.” Now, Senator Sanders has said that people in the middle class will
July 30, pay more in taxes to help pay for Medicare for all, though that will be
2019 — offset by the elimination of insurance premiums and other costs. Are Elizabeth
CNN you also, quote, “with Bernie” on Medicare for all when it comes to Jake Tapper Warren; Steve Health care
raising taxes on middle-class Americans to pay for it? … just a point of Bullock
clarification in 15 extra seconds, would you raise taxes on the middle
class to pay for Medicare for All, offset, obviously, by the elimination of
insurance premiums, yes or no?
2A — I want to bring in Mayor Buttigieg. On the topic of whether or not the
Detroit — middle class should pay higher taxes in exchange for guaranteed Pete Buttigieg,
July 30, health care and the elimination of insurance premiums, how do you Beto
2019 — Jake Tapper Health care
respond, Mayor? … Just 15 seconds on the clarification. You are willing O’Rourke,
CNN to raise taxes on middle-class Americans in order to have universal Steve Bullock
coverage with the disappearance of insurance premiums, yes or no?
2A — Senator Warren at the beginning of the night said that Democrats Amy
Detroit — cannot bring -- cannot win the White House with small ideas and Klobuchar,
July 30, spinelessness. In the last debate, she said the politicians who are not John Delaney;
2019 — supporting Medicare for All simply lack the will to fight for it. You do not Bernie
CNN support Medicare for All. Is Senator Warren correct? Do you just not Sanders,
lack the will to fight for it? Jake Tapper Elizabeth Health care
Warren, John
Hickenlooper,
Marianne
Williamson,
Tim Ryan
21Debate To Whom (or Question
Number— to whom it Topic
Location Question Asker was directed
— Date— by
Sponsors moderator)
2A — If Medicare for all is enacted, there are more than 600,000 union
Detroit — members here in Michigan who would be forced to give up their private
Bernie Sanders;
July 30, healthcare plans. Now, I understand that it would provide universal Jake
Tim Ryan, John Health care
2019 — coverage -- but, can you guarantee those union members that the Tapper
Delaney
CNN benefits under Medicare for all will be as good as the benefits that
they're representatives -- their union reps fought hard to negotiate?
2A — There is widespread agreement on this stage on the need for Pete Buttigieg,
Detroit — immigration reform, a pathway to citizenship for undocumented John
July 30, immigrants, including dreamers. But there are some areas of Hickenlooper,
2019 — disagreement. Mayor Buttigieg, you're in favor of getting rid of the law Dana Bash Amy Klobuchar; Immigration
CNN that makes it a crime to come across the U.S. border illegally. Why Beto O’Rourke,
won't that just encourage more illegal immigration? Elizabeth
Warren
2A — Senator Sanders, you want to provide undocumented immigrants free
Detroit — health care and free college. Why won't this drive even more people to
July 30, come to the U.S. illegally? Dana Bash Bernie Sanders Immigration
2019 —
CNN
2A — Governor Bullock, about two-thirds of Democratic voters and many of
Detroit — your rivals here for the nomination, support giving health insurance to Steve Bullock;
July 30, undocumented immigrants. You haven't gone that far. Why not? Dana Bash Elizabeth Immigration
2019 — Warren
CNN
2A — Congressman Ryan, are Senator Sanders’ proposals going to Tim Ryan,
Detroit — incentivize undocumented immigrants to come into this country Marianne
July 30, illegally? Dana Bash Immigration
Williamson,
2019 — Bernie Sanders
CNN
2A — There were three large-scale shootings this past week in America, at a Pete Buttigieg,
Detroit — park in Brooklyn, on the streets on Philadelphia and one that left three John
July 30, Don
dead and 12 injured at a food festival in Gilroy, California. Governor - Hickenlooper, Social issues
2019 — Lemon
excuse me, Mayor Buttigieg, other than offering words of comfort, Amy Klobuchar;
CNN what’re you specially going to do to stop this epidemic of gun violence? Pete Buttigieg
2A — Governor Bullock, how can Democrats trust you to be the leader on
Detroit — this fight for gun safety when you only changed your position to call for Don Steve Bullock,
July 30, an assault weapons ban last summer? Social issues
Lemon Beto O’Rourke
2019 —
CNN
2A — Senator Sanders, you said this in 2013, just months after the Sandy Bernie Sanders,
Detroit — Hook massacre, and I quote here: "If you pass the strongest gun Pete Buttigieg,
July 30, Don
control legislation tomorrow, I don't think it will have a profound effect Steve Bullock, Social issues
2019 — Lemon
on the tragedies we have seen." Do you still agree with that statement Marianne
CNN today? Williamson
2A — Governor Hickenlooper, you ran a Facebook ad that warned "socialism John
Detroit — is not the answer." The ad also said, "don't let extremes give Trump Hickenlooper;
July 30, four more years," are you saying that Senator Sanders is too extreme Jake Bernie Sanders, Other
2019 — to beat President Trump? Tapper Tim Ryan, Beto candidates
CNN O’Rourke,
Steve Bullock
22Debate To Whom (or Question
Number— to whom it Topic
Location Question Asker was directed
— Date— by
Sponsors moderator)
2A — Senator Warren, you make it a point to say that you're a capitalist. Is Elizabeth
Detroit — that your way of convincing voters that you might be a safer choice Jake Warren, John Other
July 30, than Senator Sanders? Tapper Delaney; Bernie candidates
2019 —
Sanders
CNN
2A — At the beginning of the night, you said you're going to hear a lot of
Detroit — promises on the stage. And previously you have said, when asked
July 30, Jake Amy Klobuchar, Other
about your primary opponents, quote, "A lot of people are making
2019 — Tapper Beto O’Rourke candidates
promises, and I'm not going to make promises just to get elected."
CNN Who on this stage is making promises just to get elected?
2A — You say the Green New Deal is about as realistic as Trump saying
Detroit — John Delaney; Energy/
Mexico is going to pay for the wall. But scientists say we need
July 30, Elizabeth Environment/
essentially to eliminate fossil fuel pollution by 2050 to avoid the most Dana Bash
2019 — Warren, John Climate
catastrophic consequences. Why isn’t this sweeping plan to fight the
CNN Hickenlooper Change
climate crisis realistic?
2A — Congressman Ryan, we are here in Michigan, where there are about
Detroit — Tim Ryan,
180,000 workers in auto manufacturing. Your state of Ohio has around
July 30, Steve Bullock,
96,000 workers in that industry. Senator Sanders is co-sponsoring a bill Other
2019 — Dana Bash Beto O’Rourke,
that would eliminate new gas-powered car sales by 2040. Given the candidates
CNN Pete Buttigieg;
number of auto manufacturing workers in your state, how concerned
Bernie Sanders
are you about Senator Sanders' plan?
2A — I want to ask you about something that CNN heard from a Michigan
Detroit — Energy/
Democratic primary voter, but we’re reaching out and getting their Amy Klobuchar,
July 30, Environment/
questions. Kimber from Birmingham, Michigan has this question, “what Dana Bash Marianne
2019 — Climate
is your plan to address infrastructure, including the water issue so Williamson
CNN Change
another Flint, Michigan does not happen again?”
2A — Congressman O'Rourke, President Trump is pursuing a reelection
Detroit — strategy based in part, on racial division. How do you convince primary Beto O’Rourke,
Don
July 30, voters that you'd be the best nominee to take on President Trump and John Electability
Lemon
2019 — heal the racial divide in America? Hickenlooper
CNN
2A — Last week the FBI Director Christopher Wray said that the majority of
Detroit — domestic terrorism cases this year have been motivated by white
July 30, supremacy. In fact, the alleged shooter in this weekend’s attack in Don Elizabeth
2019 — Social issues
Gilroy, California referenced a well-known white supremacist book on Lemon Warren
CNN social media. How are you going to combat the rise of white
supremacy?
2A — Mayor Buttigieg, you have been criticized for your handling of racial
Detroit — issues in your home city of South Bend, from diversity in the police Don
July 30, force to housing policy. Given your record, how can you convince Pete Buttigieg Electability
Lemon
2019 — African-Americans that you should be the Democratic nominee?
CNN
2A — Senator Klobuchar, what do you say to those Trump voters who
Detroit — prioritize the economy over the president's bigotry? Don Amy Klobuchar;
July 30, Social issues
Lemon Beto O’Rourke
2019 —
CNN
2A — Ms. Williamson, many of your opponents support a commission to
Detroit — study the issue of reparations for slavery. But you are calling for up to Don Marianne
July 30, $500 billion in financial assistance. What makes you qualified to Social issues
Lemon Williamson
2019 — determine how much is owed in reparations?
CNN
23Debate To Whom (or Question
Number— to whom it Topic
Location Question Asker was directed
— Date— by
Sponsors moderator)
2A — Senator Sanders -- Senator Sanders, you don't think cash payments
Detroit — are the best way to address this issue, but according to a new Gallup
Don
July 30, poll, 73 percent of African-Americans are in favor of cash payments to Bernie Sanders Social issues
Lemon
2019 — black Americans who are descendants of slaves. How do you respond
CNN to them?
2A — President Trump's tariffs have boosted the U.S. steel industry but hurt Tim Ryan, John
Detroit — auto manufacturers like those here in Michigan, which could drive up Delaney, Beto
July 30, the cost of cars. As president, would you continue President Trump's O’Rourke,
Don
2019 — steel tariffs? Steve Bullock; Economy
Lemon
CNN Elizabeth
Warren, Bernie
Sanders
2A — On Thursday of this week, a GM plant in Michigan will stop production,
Detroit — the latest auto plant to cease operations in the industrial Midwest. This
July 30, comes as part of the company's modernization plans, which will Don
2019 — Pete Buttigieg Education
eventually result in 6,000 hourly workers losing their jobs or being Lemon
CNN reassigned to other plants. What is your plan for retraining workers
whose jobs are at risk?
2A — Your estimated net worth is more than $65 million. That would make
Detroit — you subject to Senator Warren's proposed wealth tax on the assets of John Delaney;
July 30, Don Other
the richest 75,000 homes, households, or so, in the United States. Do Elizabeth
2019 — Lemon candidates
you think Senator Warren's wealth tax is a fair way to fund child care Warren
CNN and education?
2A — Mayor Buttigieg, you've talked about how you and your husband are
Detroit — paying down six figures of student loan debt. Under Senator Sanders' Pete Buttigieg;
July 30, proposal to cancel all student loan debt, yours would immediately be Dana Bash Education
Bernie Sanders
2019 — wiped away. Why wouldn't you support that?
CNN
2A — You are proposing to make college free for all qualified students. Mariane
Detroit — Should the government pay for children from wealthier families to go to Williamson,
July 30, college? Dana Bash Education
Amy Klobuchar;
2019 —
Beto O’Rourke
CNN
2A — Senator Sanders, President Trump has argued that the United States
Detroit — cannot continue to be the, quote, "policeman of the world." You said
July 30, Bernie Sanders;
the exact same thing on a debate stage in 2016. If voters are hearing Jake
2019 — John Foreign policy
the same message from you and President Trump on the issue of Tapper
CNN Hickenlooper
military intervention, how should they expect that you will be any
different from him?
2A — I want to go to Congressman Ryan and I want to turn to the subject of
Detroit — North Korea, which just hours ago launched two short-range ballistic
July 30, missiles for the second time in less than a week. Congressman, you've
2019 — Jake Tim Ryan; Amy
said that you would not meet with North Korea dictator Kim Jong-un Foreign policy
CNN Tapper Klobuchar
unless you were at least close to a deal. Now, Senator Klobuchar says
that she would, quote, "always be willing to meet with leaders to
discuss policies." Is that view wrong?
2A — Mayor Buttigieg, you served in Afghanistan where just yesterday two
Detroit — U.S. servicemembers were killed. There are currently about 14,000 Pete Buttigieg,
July 30, U.S. servicemembers in Afghanistan. You've said, quote, "One thing Jake Beto O’Rourke;
2019 — Foreign policy
everybody can agree on is that we're getting out of Afghanistan." Will Tapper John
CNN you withdraw all U.S. servicemembers by the end of your first year in Hickenlooper
office?
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