Joe Biden’s gaffes and Amy Klobuchar’s hair were among social media’s hot topics before and during Atlanta’s eagerly anticipated Democratic presidential debate Wednesday night.
The nation’s political eyes — and those from the digital world — were squarely focused on Atlanta, with 10 Democratic presidential contenders and their supporters converging on the city.
Hours before the debate began, former Vice President Biden sent a fundraising email to his supporters. The problem was, Biden told his supporters he was now leaving the debate, hours before it began:
Oh, @JoeBiden what are you doing? Honestly, your biggest enemy isn't @realDonaldTrump. It's you and your lack of campaign skills. Gaff after gaff. #DemocraticDebate pic.twitter.com/iK3Q14rfMf
— Dustin Hansen (@DustinDHansen) November 20, 2019
"I’m leaving the fifth Democratic debate now," Biden says in email to supporters hours before the debate has started pic.twitter.com/QrtoWlCgZP
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) November 20, 2019
As communications manager I am ~cringing~ what a PR nightmare. #DemDebate #DemocraticDebate https://t.co/Zmzhmm9256
— Michael Kaye (@MichaelKayePR) November 21, 2019
**OOPS: Joe Biden’s campaign just accidentally sent out a POST-debate fundraising email hours before the 5th debate starts tonight. @OANN pic.twitter.com/5BLpbxz2VW
— Patrick Hussion (@PatrickHussion) November 20, 2019
.@JoeBiden campaign misfiring the post debate email. #DemDebate #DemocraticDebate pic.twitter.com/KaflcPHYWk
— David Slavick (@davidslavick) November 20, 2019
Once the debate began, U.S. Sen. Klobuchar drew raised eyebrows for what appeared to be a nervous performance:
Can we give her some Xanax or some alcohol so she can loosen the muscles in her neck! #DemocraticDebate pic.twitter.com/HLCdV6ovvP
— BarakaFlockaFlame (@CookNTweet) November 21, 2019
Why is Amy Klobuchar always shaking? #DemocraticDebate
— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) November 21, 2019
Klobuchar is literally shaking. I’m worried about her health #DemocraticDebate
— cam 🌹 (@yhfncmkdken) November 21, 2019
I like Amy Klobuchar, but why does her hair shiver when she is talking? Is she nervous? Its visually distracting. #debate #DemocraticDebate
— ethan semm (@ethansemmel) November 21, 2019
Amy's bouncy hair tho. #DemDebate #DemocraticDebate
— Other Guy Keith Malinak (@KeithMalinak) November 21, 2019
Biden also drew social media ridicule when he said the nation needs to keep “punching” at the issue of domestic violence toward women:
Pretty sure @JoeBiden advisers not thrilled that their candidate just answered a domestic violence question by saying we gotta punch it out. Wrong analogy. #DemocraticDebate
— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) November 21, 2019
Most awkward moment. #DemocraticDebate https://t.co/HxyaYnSQqX
— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) November 21, 2019
Many of the comments ahead of the debate expressed excitement with what was about to transpire:
Tonight’s #DemocraticDebate is gonna be FIRE. Pace yourselves ❤️ pic.twitter.com/iIpHJRxBIH
— Xtinemac #kamala2020 #khive (@xtine_mac) November 20, 2019
In my second home of Atlanta where I organized against police brutality, headed to the #DemocraticDebate down the road from where I used to live.
— Nelini Stamp 🐺 (@NelStamp) November 20, 2019
Tonight's #democraticdebate is special, not only because of the unprecedented number of women candidates that will be on the debate stage, but because of the four seasoned women journalists that will moderate. Not too long ago this would have been unheard of.
— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) November 21, 2019
if @jermainedupri's "Welcome to Atlanta" isn't played tonight before the #DemocraticDebate then none of it matters!!!
— kathryn (@kgarv) November 21, 2019
Ahhh...Can't wait for the debate for some INSPIRATION, need to recharge my mental batteries after watching Impeachment hearings.
— Delverne Seaman (@DelverneS) November 21, 2019
Also, it was not cool for Trump to add National American History and Founders Month with Native American Heritage Month either.#DemocraticDebate
Other social media users weren’t so enthused:
So it's gonna be really fun when the first question will be about impeachment and we're going to have to watch ten minutes of everyone agreeing with each other. #DemocraticDebate
— Aatif Rashid (@Aatif_Rashid) November 21, 2019
All I know is the #DemocraticDebate better be good tonight! I want better questions, actual answers, and less pointless arguments and information. Show us a leader.
— ShervyseSmiles (@shervysesmiles) November 20, 2019
There is another Democratic Debate tonight. Just cancel it. Have all Democrats unite over the gravity of the impeachment hearing and Sondland's testimony. Explain why it proves Trump and his entire Administration is corrupt and must be impeached and removed.
— Wajahat "Abu Khadija" Ali (@WajahatAli) November 20, 2019
While others were downright helpful:
#DemocraticDebate
— Andrew Smith 🧢☂️ (@Locsmth) November 21, 2019
They should've had Madea as a moderator. I hope she at least opens.
😆
Official drinking rules for tonight's Democratic debate:
— Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) November 20, 2019
1 DRINK:
Anybody says "free"
Warren says "two cents"
Kamala laughs at something that's not funny
Bernie rips billionaires but not millionaires
Tulsi says "regime change"
Biden brings up Obama
Democratic debate drinking game.
— Kathy Zhu (@PoliticalKathy) November 21, 2019
Take a shot every time someone says:
-Free
-President Obama
-Impeach Trump
-my pronouns are...
-equal pay
-1000 dollars per month
-women
-Marijuana
If I was any kind of well-behaved, I wouldn't crack a joke about Medea Goes To Washington and hashtag it with #DemocraticDebate #AreWeThereYet #WaitingForTheFinalFour pic.twitter.com/tgIl9OV58w
— Risa Polaris (@RisaPolaris) November 21, 2019
Many of the candidates and their supporters posted pre-debate images on their social media feeds, including U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who attended an Ariana Grande concert Tuesday night and then shot some hoops while discussing the campaign:
Some candidates participate in mock debates to prepare for the big night.
— Gary Grumbach (@GaryGrumbach) November 20, 2019
Sen. @BernieSanders shoots hoops, holds conversations about topics and strategy w/ advisors, and last night attended an @ArianaGrande concert.
The senator shared his ideal #DemDebate format with @NBCNews pic.twitter.com/FRyujurnZc
Stage is set! Bring on @KamalaHarris #DemocraticDebate pic.twitter.com/wSAdhjgVP1
— sam krevlin (@samkrevlin) November 21, 2019
Who's ready for the debates tonight? 🙋♀️🙋♀️🙋♀️#tulsi2020 #TulsiGabbard 🌺 #DemocraticDebate #AlohaMovement #NoMoreWars pic.twitter.com/Dj7bJrwmsH
— Amy Johnson🌺 (@AmyJo8675309) November 20, 2019
Finally, Democrats were not the only social media users on Wednesday night:
In Georgia alone, the radical, government-run takeover of healthcare would kick 5.5 million Georgians off their private insurance.
— GAGOP (@GaRepublicans) November 21, 2019
You won’t hear that tonight on the #DemDebate.#KAG #gapol pic.twitter.com/SYb1cZrbkX
This is a Democratic debate for Democratic voters. Spare me the whining about how they are not talking to you. Of course they are not. You do not vote in the Democratic primary.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) November 21, 2019