Substantive and clear is how I would describe Thursday night’s Democratic debate. Fewer candidates clearly allowed for a more substantive debate. PBS and Politico did a great job of asking nuanced questions that forced the candidates to take a deeper dive into their positions. Most Democratic voters saying they’re not glued to one candidate and are open to switching according to three separate polls by USA Today/Suffolk University, NPR/PBS NewsHour, and Quinnipiac University. So it was important that candidates showcase their gravitas beyond the simple soundbites that usually result from having so many candidates on the stage.

The centrists reigned supreme in the debate, showcasing the importance of pragmatism, which seems to be on life support when you compare their positions to those advocated by Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, and Amy Klobuchar by far had the best night. They were far more realistic with Democratic voters on matters such as healthcare, education, and race. They didn’t promise pie-in-the-sky ideas, and they weren’t living in a utopia that logic would tell even the casual spectator is impossible.