Kamala Harris won the moment, but Joe Biden's still fightin'
After the first of two nights of 2020 Democratic presidential debates, I found it hard to argue with President Donald Trump's brief tweeted critique: "BORING!"
Most disappointing in the two-hour event, there were no zingers. Just as there are auto racing fans who secretly hope that if a pileup happens they'll get to see it, there are debate fans like me who hope to see a devastating zinger, the memorably sharp-edged remark, punchline or putdown that instantly takes the air out of an opponent's demeanor and momentum.
Trump may well have felt bored on the first night because he knew the truth, that the debate was really about him, yet the candidates barely mentioned his name. If so, I shared his disappointment. The first-night candidates missed a golden opportunity to take on the most unifying issue that today's divided Democrats have.
But the second-night Dems didn't miss that opportunity. Zingers? Ask Joe Biden. After coasting along for weeks as the clear front-runner in the crowded 2020 field, the former vice president stepped into a slow-rolling ambush, yet seemed stunningly unprepared for the challenge.
First came young California Rep. Eric Swalwell with a story that began pleasantly and ended with a bombshell for Biden. "I was 6 years old when a presidential candidate came to the California Democratic Convention and said it's time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans," Swalwell said. "That candidate was then-Sen. Joe Biden."
Oh, yes, he went there. Everybody knew about the age issue regarding the two oldest candidates, Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. But it seemed to catch Biden by surprise.
"Joe Biden was right when he said it was time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans 32 years ago," Swalwell said. "He's still right today."
Biden maintained his composure, beaming a forced grin that was big and bright enough to glow in the dark. A moderator asked if he was "still holding on to that torch." Grinning Joe said he absolutely was. Then he quickly steered into a defense of his education plan.
Joe Biden defends civil rights record to Chicago crowd, 1 day after criticism from Sen. Kamala Harris and other rivals at Democratic debate »
But another Californian, Sen. Kamala Harris, soon spoke up on the subject of race "as the only black person on this stage." She directed her attention to Biden, who recently had to defend some warm words he had spoken about working across ideology with two of the body's last leading segregationists.
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