Dems spar over healthcare costs and gun policy in fourth debate


Ballotpedia's Daily Presidential News Briefing

October 16, 2019: Twelve Democratic presidential candidates debated Tuesday night in Westerville, Ohio. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is expected to formally endorse Bernie Sanders on Saturday. blank    blankblank   


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Notable Quote of the Day

“The knives finally came out for Elizabeth Warren, but she parried them across all three hours of the debate. Warren demonstrated she can handle the pressure that comes with being the front-runner, even if it wasn’t always comfortable or particularly easy. And she did take some hits: from Buttigieg on Medicare for All, Andrew Yang on workforce automation and Klobuchar on, well, nearly everything.”

– Adam Cancryn, Politico

Debate Night

Twelve Democratic presidential candidates debated Tuesday night in Westerville, Ohio: Joe BidenCory BookerPete ButtigiegJulián CastroTulsi GabbardKamala HarrisAmy KlobucharBeto O’RourkeBernie SandersTom SteyerElizabeth Warren, and Andrew Yang.

The candidates discussed impeachment, healthcare, tax policy, foreign policy, gun violence, antitrust laws, fitness, abortion, and the Supreme Court. Elizabeth Warren had the most speaking time at 23 minutes. Tom Steyer spoke the least at 7.2 minutes.

For highlights from the debate for each candidate, click here.


Democrats

  • Michael Bennet will campaign in New Hampshire Wednesday, marking his ninth visit to the state.

  • Joe Biden is holding a community event Wednesday in Davenport, Iowa.

  • Julián Castro will attend a community block party Thursday hosted by Urban Dreams, Creative visions, and NAACP Des Moines in Iowa.

  • Steve Bullock said in a statement about the debate, “Six debates in and the Democratic Party is still failing to speak to the challenges middle class families face every day. When 40% of Americans wouldn’t have $400 to spare in the event of an emergency, we need to be talking about serious solutions that will make people’s lives better in the here and now — not a decade down the line, and not after a hypothetical political revolution.”

  • Pete Buttigieg is speaking Wednesday at Iowa State University’s campus in Ames.

  • John Delaney will campaign in an RV across Iowa Wednesday through Friday.

  • Kamala Harris will make her third trip to Iowa this month with stops in Dubuque, Tipton, Davenport, and Clinton Wednesday through Friday.

  • Amy Klobuchar will visit all 10 counties in New Hampshire Wednesday and Thursday as part of her “For All of America” tour.

  • Wayne Messam raised $5 in the third quarter of 2019, according to his FEC filing. His campaign Tuesday said there was a computer glitch but did not provide another fundraising figure.

  • Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is expected to formally endorse Bernie Sanders on Saturday.

  • Joe Sestak is on his fourth day of walking across New Hampshire. He will make stops in Londonderry, Peterborough, and Mont Vernon.

  • Marianne Williamson held an event Tuesday night in Encinitas, California

Republicans

  • Mark Sanford will campaign in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh Wednesday as part of his “Kids, We’re Bankrupt and We Didn’t Even Know It” Tour.

  • The Donald Trump campaign, authorized joint fundraising committees, and Republican National Committee have a cumulative $158 million in cash on hand after the third quarter of 2019.

  • Joe Walsh raised roughly $130,000 in the third quarter of 2019, not including a $100,000 loan the candidate made to his own campaign.

Flashback: October 16, 2015

Hillary Clinton outraised and outspent all other 2016 presidential candidates in the third quarter of 2015. She raised more than $29 million and spent more than $25 million.