WESTERVILLE, Ohio — In the most recent Quinnipiac national poll, 90% of Democratic voters approved of the party’s impeachment inquiry targeting President Trump. So the candidates gathered here for the first debate since House Democrats officially announced an impeachment effort could not reasonably be expected to oppose it. But the presidential candidates have tended to lag behind the most aggressive impeachment advocates in the House, and what was notable Tuesday night was that lag still exists; if there is an impeachment enthusiasm scale running from cautious to gung-ho, some candidates took positions on the cautious end despite their party’s headlong race toward impeachment on Capitol Hill.

Those candidates still seemed concerned that moderate Americans will see the party as so determined to pursue Trump that they ignore pressing national issues.