Democratic debate: Four key takeaways from the first 2020 showdown

It was Elizabeth Warren’s night to lose — and everyone else’s opportunity to gain — during the first round of the 2020 Democratic debates.

The Massachusetts senator was the leading presidential candidate in national polls among the first 10 Democrats to take to the debate stage on Wednesday night in Miami. Ms Warren was joined by other notable candidates like former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and Washington Governor Jay Inslee.

It was the first real chance for the candidates to pitch to a nationwide audience. The aim being to differentiate themselves from the competition on a range of issues, from climate change, to immigration, to — of course — how the party can defeat Donald Trump in 2020.

Here’s some of the major takeaways:

Ms Warren had one major goal: avoid slipping on a banana peel and disrupting her increasing momentum in the national polls.

She had a strong showing, using a notable amount of time to discuss the various policy proposals that have become a staple of her candidacy. She is the candidate who has shown so far the largest number of policies.

Ms Warren raised her hand as one of the only Democratic presidential contenders willing to abolish her own private health insurance in favour of a government-run plan, demanding “structural change” in the economy and the government.

On economic fairness in general, Ms Warren declared, “Who is this economy really working for? It’s doing great for a thinner and thinner slice at the top. ... That is corruption pure and simple ... and we need to make structural change.”

Policies were front and centre during this debate and Ms Warren made sure she shone.

On immigration, the Democratic presidential hopefuls were united in blaming Mr Trump for the deaths of a migrant father and his toddler daughter whose bodies were beamed around the world in photographs after they drowned in the Rio Grande on the US-Mexico border.

Former Obama administration housing chief Julian Castro said, “Watching that image of Oscar and his daughter Valeria was heartbreaking. It should also p*** us all off.”

But the candidates did not agree on everything. Mr Castro assailed fellow Texan Mr O’Rourke for not calling for fully decriminalising crossing the US-Mexico border illegally.

Mr O’Rourke said he doesn’t support fully decriminalising such border crossings because of fears about smugglers of drugs and people. Meanwhile, Mr Booker also sided with Mr Castro, arguing for full decriminalisation.

It is an emotive issue, and Mr Castro in particular was one candidate who was sure to look like he was speaking from the heart. The squabbles and interruptions between candidates also showed that it was an issue to try and stand out on.

Mr Booker was the only candidate at the debates to call it a “mistake” to sign back onto the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran after Mr Trump pulled out of the deal earlier in his presidency.

The New Jersey senator was the only one of the 10 candidates on stage in Miami on Wednesday not to raise his hand when asked if he supported the deal. Under the agreement, Iran agreed to limit its enrichment of uranium and submit to UN inspections in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Pressed to explain his rationale, Mr Booker said as president he would “do the best I can to secure this country.” He suggested the possibility of signing onto a different, stronger deal.

Asked what each candidate believed was the greatest threat facing the US, Ms Gabbard said nuclear war, while Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar said Iran.

National security is a major issue for a party that has traditionally been seen as not as strong as the Republicans in this particular area. Iran is something that the candidates will have to repeatedly return to in the coming weeks and months.

Foreign policy is an area that current frontrunner, and former vice president Joe Biden is strong on - and the candidates on stage on Wednesday acted like they new it. The aim was to be clear about where they stand.

Ms Klobuchar was the first to utter Mr Trump’s name, saying a few minutes into the debate, that he “sits in the White House and gloats” while the economy isn’t working for everyone.

She also briefly referenced him again as the debate headed into its second hour. Responding to a question about US tensions with Iran, Ms Klobuchar said, “I don’t think we should conduct foreign policy in our bathrobe at 5 in the morning.”

Other candidates invoked the president’s name in making their arguments on immigration. For example, Mr Booker spoke briefly in Spanish to further chastise Mr Trump’s policies, while Mr O’Rourke took a question in Spanish and answered it, saying, “We are going to treat everyone with respect.” He also said the Trump administration has focused on helping the wealthy and large corporations over everyday Americans — echoing similar sentiments of the other Democrats on stage.

Wednesday night featured a collection of 10 candidates, led by Ms Warren, on national television for two hours.

The overall field is so large that a second group of 10 Democrats, led by early front-runner Joe Biden, are to debate 24 hours later. The groupings were chosen at random by debate host NBC.

Additional reporting by AP