Post-Debate Releases from the
Ninth Presidential Debate — Chronological
Rapid Response Emails from During the Debate
6:09 PM Steve Guest RNC Communications/Research RNC Reality Check: Bloomberg’s Blatantly Bonkers Bloviating
6:17 PM Trump Rapid Response FACT: Nevada Union Workers Will Lose Their Health Plans if Democrats Get Their Way
6:17 PM Steve Guest RNC Communications/Research RNC Reality Check: Yes, Bernie is that CRAZY (the never-ending story)
6:27 PM Steve Guest RNC Communications/Research RNC Reality Check: Democrats’ Health Care Agenda: “There will be pain”
6:29 PM Bloomberg 2020 Press RELEASE: MIKE BLOOMBERG WILL DEFEND AND EXPAND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS
6:30 PM Klobuchar Press Amy Klobuchar: Lowering Health Care Costs and Achieving Universal Coverage
6:30 PM Bloomberg 2020 Press RELEASE: MIKE BLOOMBERG TOOK RESPONSIBILITY AND APOLOGIZED FOR THE IMPACTS OF STOP AND FRISK
6:33 PM Pete for America Press VIDEO: Pete Buttigieg at Tonight’s Debate on Bloomberg & Bernie: Let’s Put Forward Somebody Who’s Actually a Democrat
6:34 PM Pete for America Press Pete Buttigieg’s Medicare for All Who Want It Plan Will Be Affordable for Every American
6:43 PM Bloomberg 2020 Press RELEASE: MIKE BLOOMBERG HAS HIRED AND PROMOTED WOMEN TO SENIOR ROLES
6:58 PM Pete for America Press VIDEO: Pete Buttigieg at Tonight’s Debate: Leadership Is About How You Motivate People to Treat Other People
7:02 PM Trump Rapid Response FACT: Democrats’ Green New Deal Would Decimate Nevada’s Economy
7:03 PM Bloomberg 2020 Press RELEASE: MIKE BLOOMBERG HAS THE STRONGEST RECORD ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND WILL PUT THE COUNTRY ON THE PATH TO A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY
7:03 PM Steve Guest RNC Communications/Research RNC Reality Check: Dems’ job eliminating climate agenda
7:08 PM Pete for America Press What People Are Saying About Pete Buttigieg’s Strong Start at Tonight’s Debate
7:08 PM Warren 2020 Press A Warren Administration Will Make a Massive Investment in Green Manufacturing, Create Jobs, and Fight our Climate Crisis
7:15 PM Trump Rapid Response FACT: Latinos Are Benefiting from President Trump’s Economy
7:18 PM Bloomberg 2020 Press RELEASE: MIKE BLOOMBERG ON REDLINING AND HIS GREENWOOD INITIATIVE
7:20 PM Bloomberg 2020 Press RELEASE: MIKE BLOOMBERG HAS A LONG RECORD OF SUPPORTING DEMOCRATIC CAUSES
7:25 PM Bloomberg 2020 Press RELEASE: A WEALTH TAX WON’T WORK, MIKE BLOOMBERG HAS A PRACTICAL SOLUTION
7:26 PM Steve Guest RNC Communications/Research RNC Fact Check: Trump Tax Cuts
7:28 PM Bloomberg 2020 Press RELEASE: SENATOR SANDERS NO LONGER CRITICIZES MILLIONAIRES BECAUSE HE’S A MILLIONAIRE HIMSELF
7:29 PM Bloomberg 2020 Press RELEASE: MIKE BLOOMBERG WILL RAISE TAXES ON THE RICH AND MAKE CORPORATIONS PAY MORE
7:37 PM Steve Guest RNC Communications/Research RNC Reality Check: What is Pete smoking?
7:52 PM Pete for America Press Pete Buttigieg Has Been An Advocate For Immigrants in South Bend
7:55 PM Pete for America Press What People Are Saying About Pete Buttigieg’s Performance at Tonight’s Debate
@RAICESACTION 7:57 PM
BREAKING: We are interrupting @JoeBiden at the #DemDebate chanting #DontLookAway and #NoKidsInCages. We need a Democratic candidate to adopt the #MigrantJusticePlatform and commit themselves to improve the lives of migrants and refugees!
Warren for President
8:08 PM
Warren Campaign Statement on Tonight’s Debate
Charlestown, MA – Communications Director Kristen Orthman released the following statement on tonight’s debate:“Elizabeth Warren won the debate tonight. She defined the discussion from the first moments, demonstrating her strength, energy, and knowledge in cornering Mayor Mike Bloomberg -- and she showed the American people exactly why she is the best candidate to take on Donald Trump.”
Mike Bloomberg 2020
8:15 PM
STATEMENT FROM MIKE BLOOMBERG 2020 CAMPAIGN MANAGER KEVIN SHEEKEY ON TONIGHT’S DEBATE
"You know you are a winner when you are drawing attacks from all the candidates. Everyone came to destroy Mike tonight. It didn’t happen. Everyone wanted him to lose his cool. He didn't do it. He was the grownup in the room."Tonight, Mike Bloomberg presented himself as the leading alternative to Bernie Sanders. Everyone came to get under Mike’s skin, but instead, Mike got under Bernie’s. Mike delivered the line of the night to Senator Sanders: 'What a wonderful country we have. The best known socialist in the country happens to be a millionaire with three houses.'
"It took Mike just 3 months to build a stronger campaign than the rest of the field had built in more than a year. It took him just 45 minutes in his first debate in 10 years to get his legs on the stage.
"He was just warming up tonight. We fully expect Mike will continue to build on tonight’s performance when he appears on the stage in South Carolina next Tuesday."
Republican National Committee
8:20 PM
RNC Statement on the Democrats’ Dumpster Fire in Nevada
WASHINGTON — Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel released the following statement on tonight's Democrat debate:"Unfortunately for Democrats, what happened in Las Vegas won’t stay in Vegas. Americans witnessed tonight that today’s Democrat party is willing to gamble away our future with socialist policies. They saw that their party is willing to change debate rules to benefit a liberal billionaire, but not minority candidates who ran. The fact the Democrat field is still so wide open shows how weak it truly is.
“Americans are on a winning streak thanks to the Trump Administration’s pro-growth, America first policies. Come November, Nevadans, and voters across the country, will double-down on President Trump’s record of real results and re-elect him to a second term.”
Pete for America
8:52 PM
Pete's Top 5 Moments From Tonight's Debate
LAS VEGAS, NV — Tonight, Pete Buttigieg was ‘on fire’ and had a ‘winning’ debate. As punches were thrown across the stage, Pete ‘came ready’ and held ‘rock steady.’ He showed the country that they do not have to choose between a candidate that wants to burn down the party or one that wants to continue with the status quo. Pete is offering a different kind of politics that can unite Americans to meet the many challenges we face.
Here are some of Pete’s best moments of the night:
1) VIDEO: On Americans Not Having to Choose Between A Socialist And A Billionaire
Pete Buttigieg: Yes, we've got to wake up as a party. We could wake up two weeks from today -- the day after Super Tuesday-- and the only candidates left standing will be Bernie Sanders and Mike Bloomberg, the two most polarizing figures on this stage. And most Americans don't see where they fit if they've got to choose between a socialist who thinks that capitalism is the root of all evil and a billionaire who thinks that money ought to be the root of all power. Let's put forward somebody who actually lives and works in a middle class neighborhood in an industrial Midwestern city. Let's put forward somebody who's actually a Democrat. Look, we shouldn't have to choose between one candidate who wants to burn this party down and another candidate who wants to buy this party out. We can do better.
2) VIDEO: On Protecting Health Care for Unions
Pete Buttigieg: And look, we've got to unite this country to deal with these issues. You're not the only one who cares about the working class. Most Americans believe we need to empower workers. As a matter of fact, you're the one who is at war with the Culinary Union right here in Las Vegas. [...]
Pete Buttigieg: [T]he vision I'm putting forward has the support of the American people. We can actually deliver healthcare without taking it away from anyone. We can actually empower workers and lift wages without further polarizing this country. And we can build a movement without having legions of our supporters -- online and in person -- attacking Democratic figures and union leaders alike.
3) VIDEO: On Bloomberg’s Attempts to Buy the Election
Hallie Jackson: In 2018, Mayor Bloomberg was the biggest outside spender helping Democrats running for Congress. He's also donated billions towards causes like climate change, gun safety education. If his money wasn't a problem then, why is it a problem now?
Pete Buttigieg: Oh, I think he should absolutely be doing everything in his power to defeat Donald Trump. I just don't think that has to result in him becoming the president of the United States. Look, our party has values. We were built around values like making sure we protect working people. But Mayor Bloomberg opposed raising the minimum wage. Our party has a tradition that includes excellent presidents like Barack Obama-- who Mayor Bloomberg opposed. At the end of the day, it's not just about how much money you've got, it's what you stand for. And we are living at a moment when Americans are so deeply frustrated with the way that both Wall Street and Washington seem to have overlooked our lives. The view from the porch of my one house in Indiana is that they can't even see us sometimes. And if we're going into the election of our lives against a president who rose to power by cynically exploiting the frustration of ordinary Americans feeling like leaders weren't speaking to them, then I think that turning to someone like Mayor Bloomberg who thinks he can buy this election is no better a way to succeed than turning to somebody like Senator Sanders who wants to burn the house down.
4) VIDEO: On Leadership Being About How You Motivate People to Treat Others
Pete Buttigieg: But leadership is about what you draw out of people. It's what-- it's about how you inspire people to act. And right now we're in this toxic political environment. Leadership isn't just about policy. I think-- at least in broad terms-- we're largely pulling in the same direction on policy. But leadership is also about how you motivate people to treat other people. And I think you have to accept some responsibility and ask yourself what it is about your campaign in particular that seems to be motivating this behavior more than others. Because in order to turn the page on the Trump era, we're going to need a president-- not just a candidate who can win but a president who can move us forward.
5) VIDEO: On Proposing Policies That Are Paid For
Chuck Todd: Mayor Buttigieg, I want to get you in on this because you know in 2000, you wrote an award-winning essay. You praised Senator Sanders. You specifically praised him for embracing socialism. You have now since said that you were concerned about his policies, but I am curious about this. Are you out of touch with your own generation?
Pete
Buttigieg:
No.
Look,
it's
true
that
I was into Bernie before it was
cool [crosstalk]. He was a congressman at the time, and the qualities I
admired then are qualities I still respect a great deal. I
never
said
that
I
agree
with
every part of his policy views then or
now, but I appreciate that at least he's straightforward and honest
about it. He's honest about the fact that taxes will go up on anybody
making more than $29,000 to fund his healthcare plan. Although
again,
a
little
bit
vague
about
how the rest of that gap [crosstalk]. Where's
the
other
$25
trillion
supposed
to
come from? At a certain point,
you've got to do the math.
Biden for President
9:02 PM
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:
Joe Biden at the Democratic Debate in Las Vegas, NV
Virginia Congressman Donald McEachin
https://twitter.com/Donald_
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia
https://twitter.com/
South Carolina State Senator Marlon Kimpson
https://twitter.com/
Pennsylvania State Representative Malcom Kenyatta
https://twitter.com/
Tennessee State Senator Ramesh Akbari
https://twitter.com/SenAkbari/
Rufus Gifford, Former Ambassador to Denmark
https://twitter.com/
Sierra Club
https://twitter.com/
Giffords
https://twitter.com/
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
https://twitter.com/IBEW/
Ilyse Houge, President, NARAL Pro-Choice America
https://twitter.com/ilyseh/
Adrienne Elrod, Former Strategic Communications Director, Hillary for America
https://twitter.com/
Erin Schrode, Co-Founder, Turning Green
https://twitter.com/
Andrew Kaczynski, Reporter, CNN
https://twitter.com/KFILE/
Jeff Zeleny, Senior Washington Correspondent, CNN
https://twitter.com/
Jennifer Rubin, Columnist, Washington Post
https://twitter.com/
10:21 PM
What People Are Saying About Pete Buttigieg’s Standout Debate Performance
“Was extraordinary” … “The line of the night from @PeteButtigieg” … “Most naturally gifted debater in the Democratic field” ... “Best @PeteButtigieg we've seen all campaign” … “Steady if not spectacular in this debate” … “@PeteButtigieg has been best under pressure.” “@PeteButtigieg appears to be the only adult on the stage tonight” … “Continues to be the adult in the room” … “Simply the best political debater of the Dem field” .... “Everything ABOUT him is the contrast with Trump.”
CNN: Debate winner: Pete Buttigieg: “Buttigieg is, without question, the most naturally gifted debater in the Democratic field, meaning he is simply not going to turn in a clunker. He was steady if not spectacular in this debate. And he spent lots of time going at Sanders, a clear effort to send a signal to voters that he is the most credible alternative to the Vermont senator.”
The Washington Post: Standing among several older guys yelling at one another, Buttigieg came across as exceedingly calm. On climate change, he offered a sense of urgency and promised to add farmers to the solution. Unlike Sanders and Warren, who are ready to put workers in old energy sectors out of business, he argued the best way to help those displaced is to offer more jobs.
Nicole Wallace on MSNBC: I have to just say though, Pete Buttigieg is remarkable for this reason. He went to Iowa. He took advantage of the fact that many of his opponents were stuck in Washington sitting as jurors in the impeachment trial, and he put what is his training, whether it's military, whether it's his time in the private sector, to use organizing and coming out with a victory. I mean, Pete Buttigieg won the Iowa caucuses. He approaches the debates in a similar way … this is not a diss on anybody else, but Pete Buttigieg had a singular ability to converse. He didn't just go after Amy Klobuchar. I thought Pete Buttigieg edge was to Amy Klobuchar what Elizabeth Warren was to Mike Bloomberg. I thought he decimated her on her own record in terms of substance.
Claire McCaskill on MSNBC: I thought Mayor Pete did very well tonight.
Terry McAuliffe: I thought Pete Buttigieg had a very good point. "You know, you're not the only one with good answers out here." I thought Pete was very good making that point.
Jerry Zremski @JerryZremski: 7) Overall, though, @PeteButtigieg was extraordinary: calm, eloquent and — when he felt he had to be — knife-wielding. He made himself the natural alternative for moderates who might have been dismayed by @MikeBloomberg’s out-of-practice, arrogant and unpresidential performance.
David Axelrod @davidaxelrod: Thus far: Strong nights for @PeteButtigieg and @EWarren. @BernieSanders is game; taking incoming but still on his feet. @JoeBiden seems more energetic and engaged. @AmyKlobuchar is having a bad night. @MikeBloomberg, kind of a disaster so far.
Mike Murphy @murphymike: Nights like this are a good test of how candidates handle tremendous pressure. So far @PeteButtigieg has been best under pressure.
Frank Luntz @FrankLuntz: @PeteButtigieg is simply the best political debater of the Dem field. He formulates very effective answers on his feet every time. He speaks in very simple yet impactful language. #DemDebate
Enrique Acevedo @Enrique_Acevedo: The smartest comment about Latinos so far tonight comes from @PeteButtigieg: "It's time to recognize the diversity within the Latino community."
Maria Cardona @MariaTCardona: Great answer by @PeteButtigieg on entrepreneurship and the Latino community.
Jay Baer @jaybaer: Ironically, @PeteButtigieg appears to be the only adult on the stage tonight. #DemocraticDebate
Greg Pinelo @gregpinelo: Mayor Pete has been really good tonight.
Christine Quinn @chriscquinn: Leadership is about what you drAw out of people @PeteButtigieg AMAZING! POWERFUL! VISIONARY #Election2020 #demdebate
Jen Jordan @senatorjen: The line of the night from @PeteButtigieg
Jason Johnson @DrJasonJohnson: This is the best @PeteButtigieg we've seen all campaign.... He's burying Sanders on leadership right now #DemDebate
Ameshia Cross @AmeshiaCross: .@PeteButtigieg came ready tonight. He is taking it to Bernie on Medicare-for-all, his supporters bullying behavior and his notion of radical rebuild #DemDebate
Mo Elleithee @MoElleithee: “I’m used to Senators telling Mayors that Senators are more important.” Buttigieg with a strong end to that very tense spat with Klobuchar.
Patti Solis Doyle @PattiSolisDoyle: .@PeteButtigieg with what could be the best line of the night. "Let's put forth an actual Democrat" referring to Bernie and Mike #DemDebate
Mike Signer @MikeSigner: You know who’s doing this, by his very character, command, charisma, and experience? @PeteButtigieg, that’s who. Everything ABOUT him is the contrast with Trump. #themediumisthemessage.
Jorge Andrés @IBThatRaspOnTV: Mayor @PeteButtigieg with hands down the BEST answer to the #Dreamer question. #DemocraticDebate
Rich Lowry @RichLowry: Give Pete this, he’s been in complete control of himself and his words almost every single moment of all these debates
Allison Winn Scotch @aswinn: His demeanor tonight, in respect to constantly bringing to back to that point, is excellent.
Luke Bronin @MayorBronin: Three big reasons I support @PeteButtigieg powerfully on display already tonight: Temperament, temperament, temperament.
Bob Duff, Senate Majority Leader, CT @senatorduff: This is exactly what a president says. Leadership is how one acts, treats others and puts others before themself. #DemDebate2020 #DemDebate
Scot Lehigh @GlobeScotLehigh: Ok, my (somewhat haphazard) verdict. Winners: Mayor Pete and Senator Warren, followed by Amy K and Joe B. Next: Bernie S. And bringing up the rear: Mike B. #DemDebate
Michael Steele @MichaelSteele: "Let's put forward someone who is actually a Democrat"-- @PeteButtigieg There is that.
Christopher J. Hale @chrisjollyhale: .@PeteButtigieg—the youngest person in the room—. He flies above the fray, avoids personal insults, and keeps his focus on his singular political vision: creating a culture of belonging in this nation.
Hugh Hewitt @hughhewitt: Wham wham. @PeteButtigieg lands a one-two on @MikeBloomberg and then adds on “the view from the porch of my one house” and an attack on “trying to buy this election.”
Max Burns @themaxburns: .@PeteButtigieg cuts through all of the climate talk to deliver a stark warning: if we don't beat @RealDonaldTrump in 2020, every climate change solution goes out the window. Buttigieg consistently reminds voters of the monumental stakes heading into November. #DemDebate
Lauren Baer @laurenbaer: Whether you’re a fan of @PeteButtigieg or not, it’s hard to deny that he’s a master of smooth segues. #DemDebate
February 20, 2020
NBC NEWS AND MSNBC BREAK RATINGS RECORD AGAIN WITH THE MOST-WATCHED DEMOCRATIC DEBATE EVER
#1 Dem Debate in History in Both Total Viewers and the Key A25-54 Demo
NBC News and MSNBC Now Claim the Top Two Dem Debates Ever
February 20, 2020 – NBC News and MSNBC once again made television history with the most-watched Democratic debate ever, averaging nearly 20 million total viewers across the two networks, according to Nielsen Fast National Data. Last night’s debate was also the top-rated Democratic debate ever in the key A25-54 demo and attracted 13.5 million live stream viewers, surpassing any previously hosted debate this election cycle. NBC News and MSNBC now claim the top two Democratic debates and top three Democratic debate nights.
The ninth DNC-sanctioned debate of the 2020 presidential election, which also marked former Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s debut, averaged 19.658 million television viewers, with 5.310 million in A25-54 and 4.257 million in A18-49 across NBC and MSNBC from 9:00-11:00 pm ET.
NBC’s digital performance also exceeded any of the network’s major political live events since the 2016 election. The debate live stream generated 13.5 million live video streams and nearly 22 million video views across all platforms, including NBCNews.com, MSNBC.com, NBC News NOW on OTT devices, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The digital streams translate to an average audience of 417K viewers.
Users engaged an average of 37 minutes watching the livestream debate via on-net platforms, and 66.5 minutes on average via OTT devices on NBC News NOW, according to Adobe Analytics. Users also spent an average of 37 minutes watching the debate via on-net platforms, according to Adobe Analytics. Across OTT devices, NBC News NOW’s users engaged for 66.5 minutes on average.
The Democratic debate was moderated by Lester Holt, anchor of NBC Nightly News and Dateline NBC, Chuck Todd, moderator of Meet the Press and NBC News political director, Hallie Jackson, NBC News chief White House correspondent and host of MSNBC Live, Vanessa Hauc, senior correspondent at Noticias Telemundo and Jon Ralston of The Nevada Independent.
Thursday’s debate from Las Vegas featured the following six candidates: former Vice President Joe Biden, former Mayor Mike Bloomberg (NYC), Mayor Pete Buttigieg (South Bend, IN), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (MN), Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (MA).
NBC NEWS AND MSNBC
More Americans watch NBC News and MSNBC than any news organization in the world. NBC News’ award-winning television news broadcasts include TODAY, NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, Meet the Press with Chuck Todd and Dateline NBC – all of which closed out 2019 at #1 in the key news demo for the fourth straight year. Additionally, NBC News produces Third Hour of TODAY, TODAY with Hoda and Jenna and Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist, as well as primetime specials and breaking news reports. MSNBC is the premier cable destination for breaking and live news coverage, in-depth analysis, and influential voices – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The rapidly-growing NBC News Digital Group, including its streaming news service NBC News NOW, along with the SiriusXM TODAY Show and MSNBC radio channels and NBC News Radio on the iHeartMedia 24/7 News Network, provides continuous content to consumers wherever they are, whenever they want it.
NBC News and MSNBC are part of the NBCUniversal News Group, a division of NBCUniversal, which is owned by Comcast Corporation. For more information about NBCUniversal, please visit www.NBCUniversal.com.
NBC News contact: Dana Klinghoffer
MSNBC contact: Lorie Acio
Copyright © 2020 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action.
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