KIRO Radio, KTTH hosts react to fiery Democratic debate
Feb 20, 2020, 7:32 AM | Updated: 8:12 am
Michael Bloomberg and Elizabeth Warren. (AP Photo/John Locher)
(AP Photo/John Locher)
From the opening bell, Democrats savaged New York billionaire Mike Bloomberg and raised pointed questions about Bernie Sanders’ take-no-prisoners politics during a contentious debate Wednesday night that threatened to further muddy the party’s urgent quest to defeat President Donald Trump.
Rantz: Should the GOP create chaos in Dem Washington primary?
Reacting to the debate in real time were hosts from both KIRO Radio and KTTH. Suffice it to say, it was a tough night for Bloomberg, and something of a reawakening for Elizabeth Warren’s campaign.
“Tonight, Elizabeth Warren was on point,” Gee and Ursula Show co-host Gee Scott said, crowning her the winner of the night’s debate. “She destroyed (Michael Bloomberg).”
Really don’t understand why the police weren’t called on Liz. She destroyed that man. https://t.co/s9wB7BAzG2
— Gee Scott🎙 (@GeeScottSr) February 20, 2020
Warren was in a fight for survival and stood out with her repeated attacks on Bloomberg. She sought to undermine him with core Democratic voters who are uncomfortable with his vast wealth, his offensive remarks about policing of minorities and demeaning comments about women, including those who worked at his company.
And while Warren did successfully take the former New York City mayor to task, it was at the expense of focusing on her prime rival in the Democratic Primary.
“Warren had great jabs at Bloomberg. No doubt. But she needed to go after Bernie Sanders,” KTTH’s Jason Rantz pointed out. “He’s a huge reason why she’s not doing well.”
“Going after Bloomberg weakens Bloomberg but doesn’t strengthen her own campaign,” he added.
That being so, Sanders got his chance to pile on the billionaire presidential candidate too, lashing out at Bloomberg’s 1-percenter status, as well as his controversial record on race as New York City mayor.
“The big issue of course was Sanders’ socialism versus Bloomberg’s status as an unashamed billionaire,” said Seattle’s Morning News co-host Dave Ross.
How Washington state plans to avoid repeat of Iowa caucus debacle
Thrust into the national spotlight for the first time this election, Bloomberg faltered when attacked on issues related to race and gender. But he was firm and unapologetic about his wealth and how he has used it to affect change important to Democrats.
Still, it wasn’t a good night for a Bloomberg campaign that’s spent hundreds of millions of dollars on a flurry of ads on social media and television. What that money did apparently buy him: A chance to stumble on on live TV.
“Michael Bloomberg isn’t polished at all,” said Rantz. “He didn’t want to get on that stage. This is why.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report
