Warren, Buttigieg wow debate audience, Bernie reaction mixed

Democratic presidential hopeful US Senator from Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren speaks onstage during a break in the first round of the second Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season hosted by CNN at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan on July 30, 2019. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP)BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images less Democratic presidential hopeful US Senator from Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren speaks onstage during a break in the first round of the second Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season ... more Photo: Brendan Smialowski, AFP/Getty Images Photo: Brendan Smialowski, AFP/Getty Images Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Warren, Buttigieg wow debate audience, Bernie reaction mixed 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Sen. Elizabeth Warren and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg made the strongest impressions on Tuesday night, by a landslide, as about 35 Seattleites watched the launching of Round 2 in Democratic presidential debates.

The audience gathered at the Cloud Room, a shared work space on Capitol Hill, to watch 10 Democratic candidates share a stage in Detroit.

"She (Warren) is one of the few people in politics with the courage to put out specific policy proposals," said Matthew Bragd, an engineer. "Buttigieg has a charisma, a moral strength and character, a demonstration of the American ideal, that comes across very well."

Similarly, Whitney Abrams, "chief people officer" in King County government, was impressed by an "earnest, thoughtful" Warren, and by the 37-year-old Mayor Pete as a candidate "in touch with the country's emerging voters."

"I am leaning to Elizabeth Warren but hoping for Mayor Pete as vice president," Abrams said.

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Buttigieg seemed to come on late in the debate, winning repeated rounds of applause at the Cloud Room.

The candidacy of Sen. Bernie Sanders, on fire here in 2016, seemed to be doing a much slower "Bern" last night.

He has fans. "I thought Bernie was on fire tonight: I like how he talks about the issues, and these are the same issues (he) has been talking about for years because he mas moral convictions," said Justin White, an engineer.

Another viewer, Manny Cawah, took a mixed view, saying: "Bernie Sanders, of course, has really great ideas: I always wonder how realistic they are to pull off."

Ellen Ferguson, community relations director at the Burke Museum, joked on her Facebook page: "A too much Bernie, not enough Marianne."

Author Marianne Williamson condemned what American culture has become, but adopted a kind of New Age approach toward bringing back the country. Philip Wohlstetter, a festival organizer, quipped: "We do have a position for Marianne in the new administration, either Delphic Oracle or official truth seeker."

The so-called "1 percenters" -- Democratic candidates operating on life support -- did not make much impression, despite their efforts to challenge Warren and Sanders on Medicare-for-all. Ex-Maryland Rep. John Delaney repeatedly hit the front runners from the right, accusing Sanders and Warren of making "fairy tale promises."

Ex-Rep. Beto O'Rourke made one semi-memorable argument, that Texas has become a swing "purple state" for the 2020 race. But he did not make much impression on policy. "O'Rourke is smart, but I don't think he is shining right now," Cawah said.

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, who wasn't in Round 1, came across as a down-to-earth guy, who pulled off reelection in 2016 while Trump was carrying the Big Sky State by 20 points. He warned against "wish-list economics."

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But Bullock served up pitches that Warren hit out of the park: He came across as just about ready for prime time, and offering the perspective of a Mountain State progressive in the tradition of his state.

Warren drew a big ovation, in the debate hall and from the Cloud Room audience, when the former law professor responded to criticism, saying:

"I don't understand why anybody goes to all the trouble of running for President of the United States just to talk about what we really can't do and shouldn't fight for. I don't get it."

Elizabeth Warren has come out with so many policy proposals -- from breaking up technology giants to preserving public lands -- that T-shirts have been printed up saying, "I have a plan for that."

It's working, witness her slow, steady climb in the polls, and hearing support in the Cloud Room on Tuesday night.

"She has articulated how to solve problems, not just in platitudes and sound bites," said Stephanie Fairchild, a market researcher.

Didi Wittman, event manager at the Cloud Room, described Warren as "a good human being who deserves to be trusted."

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a 1 percenter, will take the stage Wednesday night with ex-Vice President Joe Biden, his first debate nemesis Sen. Kamala Harris of California and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker.

Inslee was grousing on Twitter that, nearly an hour into the debate, not a single question had been asked about the climate crisis.

The topic soon came up. Buttigieg seized on it, describing climate as "an existential crisis" -- a favorite Inslee line -- and arguing that the nation has 10 years to tackle global warming -- big time.

King County Executive Dow Constantine served as warmup act at the Cloud Room, talking about local elections and the parks levy on next Tuesday's ballot.

As for the Democrats' presidential race, he joked: "My five year old will be rooting for Bernie because he looks like a Muppet."