Biden, Harris get debate rematch
insurance and tuition-free college, among other plans.
Biden and Harris will be joined on the stage July 31 by Booker, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Colorado Gov. Michael Bennet, former Obama Cabinet member Julián Castro, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and entrepreneur Andrew Yang.
Joining Sanders and Warren on the stage July 30 will be Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, former Maryland Rep. John Delaney, former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, former Texas Rep. Beto O’rourke, Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, author Marianne Williamson and Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana.
For several of the longshot candidates, the July debates are critical. The Democratic National Committee is doubling the polling and fundraising requirements to make the stage in the next round of debates, scheduled for September in Houston and October in a city yet to be announced.
As of now, it’s likely those higher standards would mean many of the 20 candidates on stage in Detroit won’t have a place in Houston. Elsewhere on the campaign trail:
Harris’ campaign manager applauded the Nevada Democratic Party for offering more ways to participate in the state’s presidential nominating process next year by offering early in-person and telephone caucusing. Juan Rodriguez said the move will expand access and be more democratic.
The Democratic National Committee is requiring states such as Nevada that run a caucus instead of a primary for the 2020 presidential election to find ways to expand participation and offer some kind of remote participation.
Warren is proposing new regulations on the private equity industry, pitching constraints designed to end what she decries as “legalized looting” by investment firms that take over troubled companies.
Warren’s plan would hold private equity firms liable for debts and pension promises made by the companies they buy. It would restrict the firms’ ability to pay dividends, as well as high fees that shift money out of acquired companies.
A-list celebrities seem to be opening their hearts — or at least their wallets — to Buttigieg.
Among the more than 50 celebrities who gave Buttigieg money during the second quarter are rocker Joan Jett ($150), recording mogul David Geffen ($5,600), fashion icon Anna Wintour ($2,800), designer Tom Ford ($5,600), actress Sharon Stone ($5,600) and comedian Ellen Degeneres ($5,600). They helped fuel his field-leading $24.8 million fundraising haul.