Key Takeaways From The South Carolina Democratic Debate

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Missed the Democratic debate? Here are the main takeaways to catch you up!

1. When and where was the debate? The debate took place on Tuesday, February 25th in Charleston, South Carolina.

2. Democratic candidates who participated in the debate include Senator Bernie Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Amy Klobuchar, former Mayor Mike Bloomberg, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer.

3. Bernie Sanders is currently leading the Democratic primary, and he held the most speaking time during Tuesday night’s debate.

4. What did the candidates have to say about gun control? A lot. Joe Biden vowed to “take on” gun manufacturers and criticized Sanders for voting against policies that would enforce stronger background checks for gun purchases. Amy Klobuchar claims her proposed policy would not impair hunters like “Uncle Dick in the deer stand.” Elizabeth Warren faulted Senate Republicans for hindering improvements to gun control legislation.

5. The coronavirus outbreak was a hot topic that had most candidates criticizing the Trump administration for cutting funding to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

6. Pete Buttigieg and Tom Steyer took stabs at Sanders and Bloomberg, warning of a Trump re-election. Buttigieg argued that Sanders’ proposed health care plan would lose the election and result in Republicans staking claim in both the House and the Senate. Steyer added to the concern by blasting Bloomberg for his “long history of being a Republican.”

7. Elizabeth Warren says that while she and Sanders share similar views, particularly on health care reform, she is the only one who will deliver results and knows how to get there.

8. When it came to national security, the candidates offered vastly different stances. Warren emphasized the importance of keeping “strong alliances,” Bloomberg referenced the 9/11 attacks in his focus on preventing terrorism, and Buttigieg called out President Trump for not heeding advice from national security experts.

9. Mike Bloomberg brought humor to the debate by joking about his own poor performance at a debate last week. Bloomberg, along with Biden, was frustrated that the other candidates were not adhering to their speaking time limits.

10. Why was this debate significant? This was the last chance for the candidates to take the stage before “Super Tuesday” on March 3rd when many states will hold their primaries. South Carolina holds its primary this Saturday, February 29th.