KIRO Radio hosts break down winners, losers from 2nd Democratic debate

Democratic divisions over race, age and ideology burst into public view in Thursday night’s presidential debate, punctuated by a heated exchange between former Vice President Joe Biden and California Sen. Kamala Harris.

It was one of several moments that left the 76-year-old Biden, who entered the night as his party’s early front-runner, on the defensive as he works to convince voters he’s still in touch with the modern Democratic Party — and best-positioned to deny President Donald Trump a second term.

“I do not believe you are a racist,” Harris said to Biden before criticizing his record of working with Democratic segregationist senators on non-race issues as “hurtful.”

Biden called Harris’ criticism “a complete mischaracterization of my record.” He declared, “I ran because of civil rights” and later accused the Trump administration of embracing racism.

The showdown featured four of the five strongest candidates — according to early polls, at least. Those are Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, and Harris. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who debated Wednesday night, is the fifth.

In terms of Thursday night’s winner, KIRO Nights host Gee Scott saw a clear victor.

“Kamala was the MVP,” he noted. “I’m all in, Kamala.”

It’s time for a woman President! Kamala Harris or Elizabeth Warren.
They are qualified, know their stuff, and done their homework five times over. #DemDebates

— Gee Scott🎙 (@GeeScottSr) June 28, 2019

Seattle’s Morning News host Dave Ross, though, wasn’t entirely sold on Harris’s performance.

“Kamala is in danger of being all-prosecutor without the personality that makes voters love a candidate. Pete [Buttigieg] is more lovable,” said Ross.

While not aligning politically with Buttigieg, KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson did agree with one point from the South Bend, Indiana mayor, labeling it a “rare bit of sanity among the insane.”

Mayor Pete – doesn't want to give free college to children of millionaire and billionaires.

I like this.

A rare bit of sanity among the insane

We already give free college to almost all the poor in our state – College Bound – Husky Bound

— Dori Monson (@dorimonson) June 28, 2019

If there’s one thing KIRO Radio’s lineup agreed on, it was that Vice President Joe Biden’s status as an early frontrunner may be short-lived after a middling debate performance Thursday night.

“Biden was a bust,” said Scott.

“Wow — this has been a horrible night for Biden,” Monson agreed. “Trump has a drool-bid on at the possibility of running against Joe.”

All in all, it was a heated night of debate for the second round of Democratic candidates.

And just like the first night, getting a word in edgewise was each candidate’s main priority.

“The candidates were obviously watching last night’s debate. Round 2 was a cage match — they really wanted to get their sound bites in,” said KIRO Radio News Editor Jillian Raftery.

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Peoples reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Colleen Long in Washington contributed to this report.