Detroit Political Junkies Recap and React to This Week’s Presidential Debates

Jake Neher/WDET

The second Democratic presidential debate has come and gone. There was talk of important policy changes, there was bickering, there was some drama, and there were more than a few scripted sound bites.

The candidates talked about some substantive issues including immigration, healthcare reform, reparations and climate change.

But critics have called out CNN’s debate format, moderators’ questions, and the overall rancor of the debates this week.

“It’s going to be a long year,” says Detroit Free Press columnist Nancy Kaffer. She says she’s impressed with some of the lesser-known candidates so far.

“I think some of the folks who don’t really have a shot…some of these folks are shaping the conversation in really interesting ways,” continues Kaffer.

“Almost everybody is the B-Team, sadly, this early on,” says Democratic political consultant Greg Bowens, who says the only “captains” of the team so far are Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden. “But I think that the star player is really Elizabeth Warren. She’s picked up the ball from Bernie Sanders, she’s moved it forward… Now, will that get her across the line as the star player taking it to the end zone? I’m not really sure about that. But she’s really making the case.”

“I think Elizabeth Warren is the real deal,” agrees independent political consultant Brandon Brice. “I think she’s [more calm than Sanders], people actually like her, and I think she doesn’t come off as offensive as Bernie in the past.”

Kaffer, Bowens, and Brice join Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson to recap the two nights of debate and the road ahead for these candidates.

Click on the player above to hear Stephen Henderson’s conversation with Detroit area political junkies.