2020: Democrats' ideological split on full display in second debate

On foreign policy, candidates advocated diplomacy, withdrawal from Afghanistan and engagement in Middle East

Screens display an exchange between 2020 Presidential Candidates Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, and former Representative John Delaney. Bloomberg

On trade, immigration, health care, and other domestic issues, Democratic candidates seeking their party’s nomination to face off against Donald Trump in November 2020, were divided on Tuesday night between the progressive camp and the moderate.

In the second round of debates hosted by CNN in Detroit on Tuesday night, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders championed the left-wing of the party. Congressmen Tim Ryan and John Delaney, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Governor Steve Bullock and Mayor Pete Buttigieg, on the other hand, favoured a more moderate approach.

“We can go down the road that Senator Sanders and Senator Warren want to take us with bad policies like Medicare for All, free everything and impossible promises that’ll turn off independent voters and get Mr Trump re-elected,” Mr Delaney said at the outset of the debate.

“You’re wrong,” Mr Sanders responded, setting the stage for what was played out as the ongoing ideological battle between the two competing Democratic Party factions.

On immigration, trade, taxes, the left camp argued for decriminalizing unauthorized border crossings, for more protectionist policies on trade, higher taxes on the wealthy and slashing student loans. The moderate camp advocated a more centrist approach, returning to the Transpacific Partnership (TPP), lowering tariffs and “not playing into Donald Trump's hands” on immigration.

Mr Ryan rejected Ms Warren’s idea of decriminalizing unauthorized border crossings.

"If you want to come into the country, you should at least ring the doorbell,” he said. He also objected to Mr Sander’s idea of giving undocumented immigrants free healthcare. "I don’t think it’s a stretch for us to ask undocumented people to pay for their healthcare,” he said.

What followed was a testy exchange.

“You don't have to yell,” Mr Ryan told the Vermont Senator.

Mr Buttigieg, the youngest candidate in the race at 37, struck a more unifying and inspirational tone.

“Something is broken,” he said.

Quoting the scripture, and calling for outreach to the working class and demographics that voted for Mr Trump in 2016, Mr Buttigieg urged his party: “nominate me and we will have a different conversation with American voters.” Mr Buttigieg is also the party’s first openly gay candidate.

Senator Warren called for big ideas and a bold approach.

“I am not afraid. And for Democrats to win, you can’t be afraid… we can’t win with small ideas and spinelessness,” she said.

Asked about rising white supremacy, Ms Warren classified it as “domestic terrorism.”

The debate was thin on foreign policy and issues of national security. All candidates agreed the need to withdraw from Afghanistan, engage diplomatically in the Middle East and mend old alliances with Europe and NATO.

In a crowded Democratic field, a second debate will take place on Wednesday with the other ten candidates. Those will include frontrunner Joseph Biden, Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, and others.