US: Democrats show divides in second round of debates

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Sparring over a slew of national issues Tuesday night, Democrats demonstrated there is more than enough ideological diversity in the party heading into the 2020 election.

A stark moderate-liberal divide was on full display among the 10 candidates who took part in the first of two nights that will comprise the second round of Democratic debates.

Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, the liberal firebrands, toed close lines on several pivotal issues including their signature "Medicare for All” proposal to institute universal healthcare in the U.S. while eliminating most private insurance plans. On that issue and others, they found themselves on the receiving end of criticism from the other eight more pragmatic participants.

Their healthcare plan, for instance, was widely ridiculed by the majority of candidates who roundly rejected the idea of eliminating the private option for individuals seeking healthcare.

"We don't have to go around to be the party of subtraction, and telling half the country who has private insurance that there insurance is illegal," said former congressman John Delaney, a centrist, referring to Sanders and Warren.

After Sanders insisted it would allow those who would lose coverage under his plan to improve their benefits, Delaney quickly interrupted, saying, "You don't know that, Bernie."

"I do know. I wrote the damn bill," Sanders quickly snapped back in a heated retort.

Warren agreed, insisting detractors were "using Republican talking points" in issuing their criticisms.

"We are the Democrats, and we are not about trying to take health care away from anyone," she said.

At stake for many of the candidates, particularly the eight moderates, are rising campaign contribution and popularity metrics they will have to meet to qualify for the third round of debates in September.

Sanders and Warren have secured comfortable spots at the top of the pack alongside former Vice President Joe Biden and California Senator Kamala Harris, who are set to take part in the second night of debates on Wednesday.

But others, including Delaney, are at risk of being unable to meet critical campaign donor and popularity thresholds to qualify for the third round of debates in September. Candidates must have at least 2% support in four qualifying polls and 130,000 unique donors in order to qualify.

Delaney, for example, is hovering below 1% in support in many polls.

He and several other pragmatists raised the alarm over the potential of going too far left and alienating wide swathes of the American electorate in the 2020 White House race.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly attempted to paint the entire Democratic field as far-left socialists determined to remake America in their image. He, rather uncharacteristically, did not chime in on Twitter on the night's sometimes fractious back-and-forth.

But he was universally a topic of heated consternation by all of the candidates who took the stage Tuesday, regardless of their ideological leanings.

"In the face of cruelty and fear from a lawless President, we will choose to be the nation that stands up for the human rights of everyone, for the rule of law for everyone, and a democracy that serves everyone," said former congressman Beto O'Rourke. "We will meet these challenges here at home and we will lead the world in those that we face abroad, successfully confronting endless war and climate change."

On the issue of climate change, however, South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg was quick to remind the crowded field, "We will deal with climate if and only if we win the presidency, if and only if we beat Donald Trump."