Former Secretary of State John Kerry said the latest Democratic primary debate devolved into an immature display of insults and attacks.
Six Democratic presidential candidates took part in the ninth primary debate in Las Vegas, Nevada, Wednesday night. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg took the stage for the first time in the contest and was the most targeted, but most of the candidates traded jabs with others on the stage as well.
“[Bloomberg] obviously had a very tough night last night. I thought the debate overall was something of a food fight among a lot of candidates — except Joe Biden,” Kerry said. “I think Joe Biden managed to stay above that fray.”
Kerry endorsed Biden in December and has touted the former vice president since. On a Feb. 2 phone call, Kerry was overheard saying that Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was an existential threat to the Democratic Party.
Bloomberg was the prime target on Tuesday night. Sanders attacked Bloomberg in the opening lines of the debate over the mayor’s past support for stop and frisk. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren then brought up past comments that Bloomberg made about women.
“I’d like to talk about who we’re running against: a billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse-faced lesbians, and no, I’m not talking about Donald Trump. I’m talking about Mayor Bloomberg,” Warren said. “Democrats take a huge risk if we substitute one arrogant billionaire after another.”
Bloomberg fought back, criticizing Sanders for touting socialism and attacking billionaires while the Vermont senator owns three homes. Bloomberg also labeled Sanders a “communist.”
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg had several tense moments on stage, such as when Klobuchar accused Buttigieg of memorizing “a bunch of talking points.”
