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Previewing The December Democratic Debate

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Democratic presidential candidates arrive on stage before the start of the Democratic Presidential Debate at Tyler Perry Studios Nov. 20, 2019 in Atlanta, Ga. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Democratic presidential candidates arrive on stage before the start of the Democratic Presidential Debate at Tyler Perry Studios Nov. 20, 2019 in Atlanta, Ga. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Seven Democratic candidates for the 2020 presidential election take the debate stage in Los Angeles on Thursday night. We have a preview.

Guest

Tim Alberta, chief political correspondent for Politico. He is one of the moderator's of Thursday evening's Democratic debate at Loyola Marymount University, co-hosted by Politico and the PBS NewsHour. (@TimAlberta)

From The Reading List

Vox: "The Democratic debate is on after candidates threatened to boycott over labor dispute" — "The Democratic debate on Thursday, December 19, appears to be on after a labor dispute at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where the event is set to be held, has landed on a tentative solution. Democratic candidates had threatened to skip the debate and refuse to cross a picket line at the venue.

"Unite Here Local 11, a union representing about 150 cooks, dishwashers, and cashiers, said in a statement Tuesday morning that it secured a tentative contract agreement with on-campus food service provider Sodexo on Monday. According to Politico, the union said talks began in March but stalled in November. Unite Here credited Democratic National Committee and Chair Tom Perez for helping to broker the deal, which includes a 25 percent increase in compensation, a 50 percent drop in health care costs, and an increase in job security.

"'I am thrilled that we were able to reach an agreement, and that the candidate debate can continue as scheduled,' said Angela Fisher, a prep cook at Loyola Marymount University, in a statement released by the union. 'I want to thank the Democratic candidates who stood with us and the Democratic party that helped us win.' "

Washington Post: "Opinion: The best and worst cases for each candidate in the December debate" — "Thursday night, seven Democratic presidential contenders will debate in Los Angeles. Given their differing positions in the race, each candidate will have a different objective along with best- and worst-case scenarios. Let’s look at each.

"Former vice president Joe Biden’s goal should be to make the case that with a president as dangerous and unhinged as this one, it is essential not only to get rid of him but also to replace him with someone who can step into the job on day one. Biden’s worst case certainly would be a 'senior moment,' a serious memory or articulation issue, but even that is not likely to shake loose his supporters. In the best case for him, the other candidates spend their time sniping at one another, leaving him looking presidential and above the fray.

"Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has the same objective with every debate and every appearance: indict capitalism and make the case for a wholesale reinvention of our democracy. In his worst-case scenario, Sanders gets snippy with other candidates, worst of all with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), whose voters he needs to sway. In the best case, he looks principled while Warren sounds slippery and opportunistic on issues such as Medicare-for-all. That might break free a chunk of voters who thought Warren was a more palatable alternative to Sanders but, nevertheless, committed to the same progressive agenda as Sanders."

This segment aired on December 19, 2019.

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