Even with his multiple stumbling points throughout the night, CNN’s post-debate analysis chalked up a win for former Vice President Joe Biden citing how he supposedly came off at the leader America needed to see her through the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. According to the liberals of CNN, not only was Biden the one people could “trust,” but he was also the bringer of “hope” and plans.
The first panelist to give his thoughts was former Obama advisor David Axelrod, who lauded how Biden seemed in command of the situation. “He looked like a guy who was in command, who knew what needed to be done, who spoke to the problem with clarity and self-assurance. And it was a very, very strong hour, really, for him,” he touted.
Though she began by noting that Biden had taken the bait of Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) when he didn’t need to, chief political analyst Gloria Borger declared him “Mr. Empathy” and suggested that those looking for “somebody they could trust in a time of crisis” had found their guy (click “expand”):
However, I will say I thought Biden was really strong. If people were watching for somebody they could trust in a time of crisis, somebody who understands their families, Biden is Mr. Empathy. At the end, when he tells the story of a good friend of ours sitting outside a nursing home window trying to make signs to her parent so she could communicate even though she is not allowed in, people understand, that is going on all over the country.
And Biden over and over again said, “This is bigger than us, this is bigger than America, this is about the world and how we interact with each other.” And I think that's a point that according to polling, people trust Biden on. So, while I don't think this changed the race in a very dramatic way, I think he managed to reinforce a lot of what people like about him.
Following a breaking news update on new CDC guidelines that urged event organizers to consider canceling gatherings of 50 people or more (though, it broke before the debate), liberal activist and CNN host, Van Jones suggested that “in the middle of a pandemic, the healer has real appeal. And I think Biden came across as that healer.”
In teeing up former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, host Chris Cuomo made the laughable claim that CNN had made a “concerted effort” to “not” stoke a public “panic.” “[I]t's not about panic, be reasonable, surrender the ‘Me’ to the ‘We’ and we will get through this more quickly,” he claimed.
McAuliffe immediately proclaimed that “clearly, Biden won that debate. He looked presidential tonight.” His first point was that Biden had some ideas for dealing with the virus. “You know, I liked what he said, I'm going to commit the military, we're going to come out and use the military to build hospitals. So, he had concrete ideas,” he commended.
“So, they wanted to see who was going to continue to talk about and give them hope and leadership on the issue of coronavirus. And clearly, Biden did that tonight,” he added.
MSNBC's post-debate analysis was on a similar page with their praise of Biden.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CNN Debate Post Analysis
March 15, 2020
10:02:16 p.m. EasternANDERSON COOPER: David Axelrod, you've seen a lot of debates. You haven’t seen one quite like this though.
DAVID AXELROD: No, I don't think we've had one quite like this under these circumstances. And, you know, I thought the opening of the debate, which obviously focused on the crisis was the strongest segment that we've seen from Joe Biden in 11 races. He looked like a guy who was in command, who knew what needed to be done, who spoke to the problem with clarity and self-assurance. And it was a very, very strong hour, really, for him.
(…)
10:03:35 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: Gloria, Biden did seem to get off track when Senator Sanders began more aggressively going after his record.
GLORIA BORGER: Sure. He took the bait. And honestly, I don't see why he should’ve. He had a very strong debate. It was a substantive debate. Bernie Sanders was clearly trying to use this crisis to expose the health care system in this country and to talk about his Medicare for all and the unjustness of the society in terms of the economy. So, Sanders had a plan, he was attacking Biden. And Biden should have just said go away, but he did take that bait.
However, I will say I thought Biden was really strong. If people were watching for somebody they could trust in a time of crisis, somebody who understands their families, Biden is Mr. Empathy. At the end, when he tells the story of a good friend of ours sitting outside a nursing home window trying to make signs to her parent so she could communicate even though she is not allowed in, people understand, that is going on all over the country.
And Biden over and over again said, “This is bigger than us, this is bigger than America, this is about the world and how we interact with each other.” And I think that's a point that according to polling, people trust Biden on. So, while I don't think this changed the race in a very dramatic way, I think he managed to reinforce a lot of what people like about him.
(…)
10:15:48 p.m. Eastern
CHRIS CUOMO: Now, when you look at it, who made the most of the moment where we are tonight?
VAN JONES: Look, in the middle of a pandemic, the healer has real appeal. And I think Biden came across as that healer. Early on, a lot of people are going to look at the first part of the debate and then they may drift off and came back at the end. Early on, he had very strong moments.
(…)
10:19:59 p.m. Eastern
CUOMO: Look, we've all been making a concerted effort at CNN, it's not about panic, be reasonable, surrender the "Me" to the "We" and we will get through this more quickly. They’re living a moment right now. People are looking at Trump differently right now because of the exigencies that are real. It's not theoretical. That was the floor of the debate, how did each gentleman handle it in your opinion?
TERRY MCAULIFFE: And clearly Biden won that debate. He looked presidential tonight. You know, I liked what he said, I'm going to commit the military, we're going to come out and use the military to build hospitals. So, he had concrete ideas. Senator Sanders kept trying to get back to Medicare for all and getting on different health care rabbit holes. People are sitting home today are saying, “I'm terrified of COVID-19. I don’t know what to do. Restaurants, bars are closing, I to the grocery store, all the aisles are empty, I don’t know what to do.”
So, they wanted to see who was going to continue to talk about and give them hope and leadership on the issue of coronavirus. And clearly, Biden did that tonight.
And listen, I've done a lot of debates, I've done debates where I’ve been leading the race and I've been done debates where I wasn't leading. They both did what they had to do. Joe Biden went in, clearly as the winner, and you deflect, you look like you’re the winner, and you don't let yourself caught in any little positions that’s going to bother you, and Senator Sanders had to really, you know, go after him on different issues.
(…)
