How to watch, and what to watch for, in Friday night Democratic debate
Democrats hoping to challenge a reinvigorated President Donald Trump will debate Friday night in New Hampshire, only a few days ahead of the Granite State’s nationally watched primary.
Tuesday's primary comes after an Iowa Democratic caucus that subjected the party to national ridicule. The caucus' first results came almost 24 hours late, as party leaders blamed a new app supposedly designed to make it easier for Democrats to caucus.
Instead, the app, along with other technical difficulties, created enormous reporting delays that frustrated candidates and gave fodder to Republicans claiming Democrats can’t even manage a single state caucus, much less be trusted to run the federal government.
»Friday night smackdown: Democrats set to clash in New Hampshire debate after Iowa debacle
Here’s how to watch the debate, who’s in it and what to watch for.
How to watch
The debate will be broadcast live and free of charge on ABC, from 8 to 11 p.m. EST, from St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. ABC is co-hosting the debate with WMUR-TV and Apple News. You don’t even need cable to watch the debate, which is also being livestreamed on the ABC app, ABC.com and connected devices including AppleTV, Amazon Fire TV and Roku.
Who’s in it
Candidates have until 11:50 p.m. Thursday to qualify. So far, those in are former Vice President Joe Biden; former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg; U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren; billionaire executive Tom Steyer; and entrepreneur Andrew Yang.
ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, David Muir and Linsey Davis, along with WMUR political director Adam Sexton and anchor Monica Hernandez will moderate.
What to watch for
- The debate comes on the heels of Trump's acquittal in the nation's third presidential impeachment trial in history. Listen for any questions about impeachment from the moderators and, if there are none, watch to see if any candidates bring up the topic on their own.
- Also: after Iowa, the issues of voter security and election safeguards are sure to be brought up. Trump has been relentlessly accused of Russian voter influence since his election, and now, after Iowa, Democrats have their own issues.
- Attacks on the frontrunner(s). Buttigieg and Sanders are in a virtual tie in Iowa, with 97% of precincts reporting, with Warren in third and Biden in a hugely disappointing fourth. Will Biden come out swinging? Will Buttigieg and Sanders have targets on their backs from Warren and Klobuchar? Will anyone even notice Steyer or Yang?
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A poll released last week showed Tuesday's primary too close to call. The poll was independently funded and conducted by the UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion.
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Sanders is at the head of the field with likely Democratic primary voters, with the support of 23%. But Sanders — who won the 2016 New Hampshire primary by 22 points — is now just 1 point ahead of Biden, who has the support of 22% of likely voters, and 4 points ahead of Warren, who has 19%.
