Winner or not, Warren focal point of debate

It’s a stupid question, but everyone always asks it anyway after a debate.

So let’s get it out of the way: Who won?

“You have to beat the champion to take the crown, and in that sense Elizabeth Warren came into this debate on top and and she left it on top,” said David Niven, a political science professor at the University of Cincinnati, following Tuesday night’s three-hour Democratic match-up in Westerville.

“She had the most opportunity, and she used it well to articulate her values and solidify her place in the center of the race.”

But before the Massachusetts senator’s supporters start polishing her crown, have a look at what Aaron Kall, director of debate at the University of Michigan, said.

“I definitely think Warren lost,” he said after watching the contest from the press filing center next to the debate site, Otterbein University’s Rike Center.

“The biggest question is who the biggest beneficiary is going to be.”

But wait ... there’s more! From Mark Caleb Smith, director of the Center for Political Studies at Cedarville University in southwest Ohio: “In general, I think Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg had the best performances. Bernie Sanders helped himself by appearing to be his old self, so his health may not drive him from the race.”

So there you have it from the experts, folks.

Did these guys watch the same debate?

Larry Sabato, director of Former Vice President Joe Biden was among those confronting Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts on health care during Tuesday’s Democratic presidential debate at Otterbein. the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, didn’t pick a winner. But he said via Twitter, “This is the Elizabeth Warren debate. You might be happy or sad about it, but she’s the one who is setting the tone and she’s the reference point for most of the other candidates. That happens to the frontrunner.”

With almost 23 minutes of speaking time, Warren easily got the most exposure during the Ohio debate, a New York Tiimes compilation shows.

Next was former Vice President Joe Biden, at just under 17 minutes, followed by Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, former Texas Rep. Beto O’rourke, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, all clustered at a little over 13 minutes. California billionaire Tom Steyer got the least mike time, clocking in at 7

minutes and 13 seconds.

“Like trying to win an Oscar in a movie with a huge ensemble cast, it is really hard for any of these candidates to hold the spotlight in this debate,” Niven said.

“The candidates remembered their lines. Nobody Rick Perry’d themselves out of the race tonight,” he added, citing the former Texas governor infamously remembered for not remembering which cabinet agencies he wanted to abolish.

Buttigieg criticized Warren for ignoring a CNN questioner’s “yes or no” query about whether her “Medicare for All” plan would increases taxes for the middle class, calling it “a yes-or-no question that didn’t get a yes-or-no answer.”

Klobuchar also hit Warren for the dodge: “At least Bernie’s being honest here and saying how he’s going to pay for this and that taxes are

going to go up. And I’m sorry, Elizabeth, but you have not said that, and I think we owe it to the American people to tell them where we’re going to send the invoice . ... You are making Republican talking points right now in this room.”

Biden also chided Warren for fuzziness on who picks up the bill for her proposal.

Niven said, “Sen. Warren is now the center of the universe. The jabs that used to be aimed at Biden are all targeting Warren now.”

Kall compared Warren’s role as dartboard Tuesday night to the experience of Biden in earlier Democratic debates.

“All the other candidates sort of know the nomination runs through her ... she was on the defensive for so long,” Kall said. “At the same time, it wasn’t a total implosion. But after that shakiness, I think voters will ask could she stand on a stage with (President Donald) Trump for 90 minutes.”

Kall, Smith and Niven said Sanders’ energetic performance seemed to alleviate fears about his health after a heart attack this month.

Smith said the debate may have marked a turning point for Biden.

“Biden’s greatest strengths in the campaign so far are his relative moderation and experience, which most think make Biden the most likely candidate to challenge Trump in the Midwest and elsewhere. Recent criticism of his son’s business dealings overseas, combined with Biden’s own performance, have made Biden vulnerable. He may no longer be the most-electable candidate on the stage, which marks a significant change in the race,” Smith said.

Smith said Tuesday’s debate reflected the ongoing debate within the Democratic Party over the need to appeal to moderate voters in places like Ohio.

“The moderate theme was that if the party nominee argues for gun confiscation, a wealth tax or Medicare for All, the party is playing into Donald Trump’s strength. Appealing to Midwestern voters in Ohio, as well as those in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, will be key for the Democrats’ chances next November.”

Kall’s takeaway when the debate was finally over: “In reality after (Tuesday), there are four candidates. Some of the rest are simply auditioning for vice president.”

The quartet? Warren, Biden, Sanders and Buttigieg.