MIAMI — A swath of 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, with Kamala Harris leading the way, tore into a stunned Joe Biden with jabs at his nearly five decades in office and his record on race.
In what may well turn out to the biggest moment of the first two Democratic debates, the senator from California, 54, took the former vice president to task for opposing busing (designed to end racial segregation in schools) and declared that she had been a victim at age 6, saying “I was that little girl.”
The politeness that had largely pervaded the primary race for the right to challenge President Trump next year shattered late Thursday in Miami when Biden, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and Harris took the stage for the Democratic National Committee’s second-night debate.
Those four top contenders were joined by Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, California Rep. Eric Swalwell, self-help guru Marianne Williamson, and entrepreneur Andrew Yang. They completed the second group of 10 to face moderators from NBC News, MSNBC, and Telemundo in front of a national TV audience.
Swalwell, 38, launched the most direct salvo against the 76-year-old Biden’s lengthy public record, if slightly obliquely. Swalwell argued his generation was “ready to lead” on student debt before using the same line of attack in response to a question about the economic impact of artificial intelligence.
“I was six years old when a presidential candidate came to the California Democratic Convention and said it’s time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans. That candidate was then-Sen. Joe Biden,” he said. “He is still right today.”
Biden tried to turn the rivals remarks in his favor. “I’m still holding on to that torch,” Biden replied.
Sanders, 77, then weighed in, saying, “It’s not generational. The issue is, who has the guts to take on Wall Street, to take on the fossil fuel industry, to take on the big money interests who have unbelievable influence over the economic and political life of this country?”
The exchange prompted Harris to interject that American did “not want to witness a food fight.”
The California senator later pressed Biden on his remarks at a New York fundraiser this month, when he touted his collaborative working relationship with known segregationists former Sens. James O. Eastland of Mississippi and Herman Talmadge of Georgia in the Senate during the 1970s.
[Related: ‘Deep personal relationships’: Joe Biden’s six segregationist friends]
“I do not believe you are a racist,” she said. “But I also believe and it’s personal and it was hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators who built their reputations and career on the segregation of race in this country.”
The debate followed Wednesday’s showcase of Democratic hopefuls, which clearly demonstrated the party’s lurch to the left in a political moment where socialism has been popularized by figures like Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. Wednesday night’s rare clashes — most notably between former Obama housing secretary Julian Castro and ex-Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, as well as between Hawaiian Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan — paved the way for more frequent fiery interactions on Thursday.
Thursday’s debate often drew lines along issues currently causing internal party fissures, starting with the influence of socialism on the base. Sanders deflected a query about whether his platform exposed the party to assaults from President Trump and Republicans.
The discussion on healthcare also highlighted fractures within the crowded primary field, except for when all the candidates on stage signaled their support for providing healthcare to undocumented immigrants. The unanimous endorsement captured Trump’s attention while on his trip abroad.
“All Democrats just raised their hands for giving millions of illegal aliens unlimited healthcare. How about taking care of American Citizens first!? That’s the end of that race!” Trump tweeted.
All Democrats just raised their hands for giving millions of illegal aliens unlimited healthcare. How about taking care of American Citizens first!? That’s the end of that race!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 28, 2019
The tussle between the contenders over the need for a generational shift within the party cascaded over to likely Democratic primary voters milling outside the debate arena.
Phyllis Compton, a 71-year-old retired teacher from Miami, said she had reservations regarding Biden’s age. “I mean, I’m his age, and I want him to show that he’s sharp, he’s with it,” Compton told the Washington Examiner.
Eugene Shaw, a 67-year-old retiree visiting Miami from Troy, Michigan, said the Democratic Party should consider a changing of the guard because “the older, senior ones don’t necessarily relate to a younger person.”
The candidates will next be gathered for DNC debates on July 30 and July 31 in Detroit, Michigan.
