Expectations were high among supporters of Elizabeth Warren that she would have her big moment during Tuesday night’s Democratic debate in Detroit, but the Massachusetts senator did not produce.
Warren backers who viewed the second Democrat debate at a local watch party at Bugsy’s Pizza in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia told the Washington Examiner they hoped in vain for an attention-grabber similar to California Sen. Kamala Harris’ pointed attack on former Vice President Joe Biden during the first debate in Miami. They believed Warren did well on stage, but felt the debate did not give her much of an opportunity to break out from the crowded field of Democrats.
The intimate, majority-female party of 30 attendees was enthusiastic when Warren was first introduced and then each time she returned fire to opponents taking shots at her over healthcare and other issues. But was it enough to help her stand out?
“I think we’re seeing a number of candidates on stage, which makes it really difficult just because there’s not as much time to devote to each candidate’s answers,” Warren supporter “Lauren” told the Washington Examiner. “So, I think that was probably the biggest deterrent from maybe not having the breakout moment that she wanted to have,”
Warren, who got into several tangles with former Maryland Rep. John Delaney over her “Medicare for all” plan, refused to attack fellow senator Bernie Sanders all evening. One attendee at the Warren watch party told the Washington Examiner she thought Sanders stood out.
“I actually think that Bernie [stood out] tonight,” Kristin from Alexandria said. “I think she did better in the first debate than today. I’m not sure why that is. Maybe it was because Bernie was in this debate and wasn’t in the last one. I love Elizabeth Warren but I wasn’t as impressed during this debate.”
One of the youngest debate watch party watchers was 17-year-old Claire Williams who said she was impressed with Warren but was “unsure” if she actually had her breakout moment Tuesday night on stage.
“She definitely was the most aggressive candidates tonight, so I think people will definitely say that tomorrow morning. But for me, like, it really hasn’t hit yet,” Williams said.
Barbara Whitt, an Alexandria resident who supported Hillary Clinton in the primary in 2016 says the primary field is just too crowded with men.
“I think some of these men are just running their mouths, and it’s obvious they should just bow out now and give these women a chance to let us hear more of their opinions and feelings,” said Whitt.
Warren’s refusal to go negative on any one candidate appears to be reflected in the online Google trends following the debate.
This showed that online users searched during the debate for Marianne Williamson above Sanders, followed by Warren and Pete Buttigieg.
