“You’re literally in part of the committee that’s overseeing these things, and were not able to speak to, literally, the first thing about the politics of the country to our south.” “Are you trying to say that I’m dumb or are you mocking me here, Pete?” “I’m saying that you shouldn’t trivialize —” “I made an error. People sometimes forget names. If I could respond — this was a pretty big allegation. He’s basically saying that I don’t have the experience to be president of the United States. I am the one — not you — that has won statewide in congressional district after congressional district. And I will say, when you tried in Indiana, Pete, to run what happened to you? You lost by over 20 points.” “This is the race for president. If winning a race for Senate in Minnesota translated directly to becoming president, I would have grown up under the presidency of Walter Mondale. This is different. Let’s talk about this —” “Let’s talk about a major policy with Mexico. No, no, no, no —” Moderator: “Next question, please.” [shouting] “I wish everyone was as perfect as you, Pete. But let me tell you what it’s like to be in the arena. He had made a pretty big allegation against me, again. And I think I should have a right to respond.” “I’m stating the facts because these are votes that you took, and those votes set you alone among the Democrats running for president. No other Dem — is it true or is it false, that no other Democrats from the Senate running for president voted that way?” “First of all, what you said about the judges are false. You have not been in the arena doing that work. You’ve memorized a bunch of talking points, and a bunch of things.” “I’m used to senators telling mayors that senators are more important than mayors. But this is the arena too. You don’t have to be in Washington.” “I was hearkening back. I made my case on immigration to what the mayor said about Washington. So I look at this a different way. When we were in the last debate, mayor, you basically mocked the 100 years of experience on the stage. And what do I see on this stage: I see Elizabeth’s work, starting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and helping 29 million people. I see the vice president’s work in getting $2 billion for his cancer ‘moonshot.’ I see Senator Sanders work — working to get the veterans bill passed across the aisle, and I see what I’ve done, which is to negotiate three farm bills, and be someone that actually had major provisions put in those bills. So while you can dismiss committee hearings, I think this experience works. And I have not denigrated your experience as a local official. I have been one, I just think you should respect our experience when you look at how you evaluate someone who can get things done.” Moderator: “Thank you, senator, Mr. Mayor I’ll give you a chance to respond.”