After last week's informative GOP debate, it's time for the Democratic National Committee's second debate, which CBS will carry live from Las Vegas. Oddly, the debate airs on Saturday night, a broadcast dead-zone, which many pundits are interpreting as a DNC move rooted in low confidence for its three lackluster candidates: Hillary Clinton, currently under FBI investigation, Bernie Sanders, an admitted socialist, and Martin O'Malley, an "also-ran."
Shortly after the first debate, Lincoln Chafee and Jim Webb dropped out of the race, slimming the DNC's field from five to three. O'Malley is the lowest-polling candidate to remain in the race, but he's putting up a good fight, according to Rolling Stone. Taking advantage of the highly debated issue of immigration on Thursday, O'Malley dined with an Austin, Texas, family whose patriarch is an illegal immigrant, according to America's Voice.
Clinton received a boost in the polls after Vice President Joe Biden announced he would not run for president, according to the Huffington Post and after being buoyed by the majority of media for her convoluted testimony before the House committee regarding her involvement in the 2012 Benghazi terrorist attack. The revelation that she told her family and foreign officials the attack was the result of planned and coordinated terrorist activity while she told the media, the American people, and the victims' families that it was the result of a spontaneous protest over an anti-muslim video has continued to hurt her in polls measuring her "trustworthiness" and "likability." Nevertheless, and as is usual for DNC candidates, she secured endorsements from a few prominent unions, including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and more union endorsements are sure to follow.
Sanders has also busy since the previous debate, and, as reported by HNGN, has been endorsed by the U.S. Postal Workers Union – a not insignificant backing. He also added another celebrity to his endorsement list in popular UFC fighter Ronda Rousey. After letting Clinton slide on the FBI investigation into her emails, and his subsequent slide in the polls, Sanders – not surprisingly – has suddenly changed his view and now says there is validity to the probe.
Details For Saturday's Debate
What: The second Democratic debate will begin at 9 p.m., and will last two hours.
Where: Sheslow Auditorium at Drake University, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Who: Moderators include CBS News' John Dickerson and Nancy Cordes, as well as local journalists Kevin Cooney, of KCCI, and Kathie Obradovich, of the Des Moines Register.
Candidates
The debate will feature former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton center stage, with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Marlyand Gov. Martin O'Malley.
Rules
Continuing the trend set by the Republican debates, this debate will last two hours. All three candidates should have enough time to speak, since their numbers are so low compared to their opposition. The network has stated that their will be no opening statements.
Each candidate will have 60 seconds to respond to questions they are asked, and will have 30 seconds for rebuttals and follow-up answers. Additionally, they will be granted 60 seconds for closing statements.
How To Watch
The debate will air on CBS, and the network will feature a live stream on its website, accessible without a cable subscription, according to Politico. Listeners can also tune into CBS's radio affiliates to listen.
Online: Follow HNGN's President and editorial director Michael Bullerdick (@mbullerdick) for his live tweets during the event!
Bullerdick's Predictions: After coddling Hillary Clinton and losing a decent lead in the polls, look for Bernie Sanders to reverse strategy and play tough this time – particularly about Benghazi and the email scandal, which Clinton is sure to blame on that favorite of all Clinton straw men, "the vast right wing conspiracy." There's plenty from Clinton's testimony under oath at the select committee hearing on Benghazi that Sanders can use against her and he'd better use it because rumors began to swirl today that she may have already sewn up the required delegate count to win the nomination. Expect Clinton to continue sidestep these points as she attempts to run out the clock drumming up the so-called "war on women" and reminding everyone – as much as she can – that she's a woman and Americans would be making history yet again by voting for her.
Drinking games!
After a calculated, deep investigation, we found these sites' drinking games to be most exciting and fun for viewers, regardless of party affiliation. Or if you are solely watching to get drunk.
A word to the wise, though! Know your limit and drink in moderation, because as Surgeon General Vivek Murthy points out, "You simply can't drink every time one of these guys says something silly... It's just a formula for disaster."
This is only the second debate of the 2016 presidential cycle. Many more are set to take place. Some have exact dates and sponsors already set, while others are still being planned. Check below to see all of the debates scheduled between now and election day 2016, courtesy of USPresidentialElectionNews.com.
Remaining Debate Schedule
Saturday, December 19, 2015
ABC News Democratic Primary Debate
Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
Sponsors: ABC News, WMUR
Candidates: TBD
Sunday, January 17, 2016
NBC News Democratic Primary Debate
Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Sponsors: NBC, Congressional Black Caucus Institute
Candidates: TBD
Thursday, February 11, 2016
PBS Democratic Primary Debate
Location: Wisconsin
Sponsors: PBS
Candidates: TBD
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Univision Democratic Primary Debate
Location: Miami Dade College in Miami, Florida
Sponsors: Univision, The Washington Post
Candidates: TBD
