Mr. Bloomberg was pummeled by all, his wealth, his stop-and-frisk policy, his nondisclosure agreements all fodder for endless very loud criticism. At times he appeared flustered, a bit befuddled and overmatched. It was not a stellar introduction to the country.

Mayor Pete and Senator Amy Klobuchar standing next to each other and going toe to toe.

Senator Bernie Sanders repeating his mantra over and over, when not denigrating the former mayor of New York City.

And Joe Biden, well, he was there trying to be as coherent and focused as possible.

It made for a more entertaining evening for certain. Whether it was actually a debate is debatable.

Robert S. Nussbaum

Fort Lee, N.J.

To the Editor:

It was refreshing to see the Democratic presidential candidates going at it with gusto on Wednesday night. Unlike the previous debates, which were often soporific and anodyne, this one was lively and afforded viewers, particularly those who are still undecided, a sharply delineated contrast among each of the candidates.

Further, it showcased a group of feisty contenders, each of whom exhibited the ability on the national stage to both land and take a punch — critical factors for the eventual nominee to take on President Trump.