The obvious headline out of the Democratic debate Tuesday was simple: The candidates, by spending the first hour attacking her, confirmed that they agreed with the polls that Elizabeth Warren is now the most likely nominee. The result, by the first commercial break, was a massive edge for Warren in time holding the stage; she spoke for more than twice as long as any other candidate over the opening hour. I’m always reluctant to guess how viewers responded, but she seemed to at least hold her own. There was certainly no obvious breakdown.
That said, as usual, the leading candidates had the least at stake. Warren, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and a few others have already qualified for the next debate in November and aren’t starved for resources. While any nationally televised appearance can help or hurt, we’re still at the point where most voters aren’t paying much attention, and those who are — the party actors intensely involved in candidate selection — will less likely be swayed by either a great moment or a horrible one.
