Joe Biden conceded he may lose the New Hampshire primary to Bernie Sanders
Right at the outset of the debate, Biden acknowledged that he is likely to lose New Hampshire's primary, likely to Sanders and Warren.
In Iowa, Biden had a disappointing fourth-place finish. He trailed three of his opponents, earning just 13.7% of the statewide vote and 16% of state delegate equivalents, and coming in seven percentage points behind the third-place finisher Warren.
As several analysts pointed out, Iowa was never expected to be a prime pickup opportunity for Biden, given that the state's Democratic primary electorate is considerably whiter, more college-educated, and left-leaning than his base and the Democratic primary electorate.
But still, earning just 13% of the statewide vote is a troubling sign for his future prospects — and a major blow to his core argument that he is most electable.
Biden: "I took a hit in Iowa, and I’ll probably take a hit here." #DemDebate #fitn pic.twitter.com/eOMS4v13Dt
— Sarah Dolan Schneider (@sarahedolan) February 8, 2020Amy Klobuchar took direct aim at Mayor Pete Buttigieg's argument that a "Washington outsider" should be president
Amy Klobuchar goes after Pete Buttigieg's inexperience: "It is easy to go after Washington, because that's a popular thing to do...We have a newcomer in the White House, and look where it got us. I think having some experience is a good thing." pic.twitter.com/C6mDOXZU7z
— Axios (@axios) February 8, 2020Biden got the debate hall to rise to a standing ovation for Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the National Security Counsel official who testified in Trump's impeachment inquiry
On Friday, Trump fired Vindman, an Army foreign area officer detailed to the White House, who gave powerful testimony in Trump's impeachment hearings last month.
As Insider reported earlier today, both Vindman and his twin brother Yevgeny were abruptly dismissed and escorted off the premises of the White House.
"Lieutenant Colonel Yevgeny Vindman, a senior lawyer and ethics official at the National Security Council, and a decorated Iraq war veteran, was escorted off of the grounds of the White House, suddenly and with no explanation, despite over two decades of loyal service to this country," Vindman's attorney David Pressman said in a statement to Insider.
Biden asks the audience to give Alexander Vindman, who was escorted out of the White House today, a standing ovation: "[Trump] should be pinning a medal on Vindman and not on Rush Limbaugh." pic.twitter.com/lMsHyaT8IQ
— Axios (@axios) February 8, 2020Sanders took the extraordinary step of calling Saudi Arabia's powerful leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) a "murderer"
While Bernie Sanders himself is a long-time critic of US military and economic support for Saudi Arabia, it's rare for major elected officials -- and unprecedented for a major presidential candidate -- to describe key Saudi leaders in such stark terms.
On the debate stage, Sanders took aim at Saudi Arabia's human rights record and specifically the killing of Saudi journalist and Washington Post opinion writer Jamal Khashoggi, who was kidnapped and brutally murdered by Saudi agents in Instanbul in November 2018.
In discussing Saudi Arabia, Sanders called the crown prince "a terrible murderer" over the Khashoggi murder.
THIS is why @BernieSanders is ready to be commander-in-chief
"You got Mohammad Bin Salman in Saudi Arabia who is a terrible murderer who murdered Khashoggi in cold blood and dismembered his body"
CALLING. IT. OUT. ON. THE. DEBATE. STAGE. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/RhyFQj5GGC
Pete Buttigieg was put on the spot over the rise in marijuana possession arrests in South Bend, and was called out by Elizabeth Warren for his answer
Despite his skill as fundraiser and campaigner, Buttigieg has consistently struggled among African-American and Latino voters, continuing to poll at or close to 0% among black voters.
In an effort to improve his standing among black voters, Buttigieg has rolled out economic empowerment and criminal justice plans but has had to contend with his own controversial record on those issues.
At the debate, ABC correspondent Linsey Davis challenged Buttigieg over the rise in marijuana possession arrests under his tenure in South Bend, Indiana, where he served as mayor for eight years.
After Buttigieg's somewhat evasive answer, Warren directly said "no" when Davis asked if Buttigieg's response was substantial, winning applause from the audience.
Read more:
Buttigieg attempts to explain the increase in black arrests in South Bend under his leadership for marijuana possession.
ABC's Linsey Davis: "Sen. Warren, is that a substantial answer from Mayor Buttigieg?"
Warren: "No." pic.twitter.com/iesdxQTXK3
