For Joe Biden, the debate draw is a potential disaster, and an opportunity | By davidaxelrod for CNNOpinion
David Axelrod, a senior CNN political commentator and host of"The Axe Files," was senior adviser to President Barack Obama and chief strategist for the 2008 and 2012 Obama presidential campaigns. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his. View more opinion articles on CNN.
I can imagine two reactions at Biden headquarters Thursdsay night when the lineups for the CNN debates in Detroit were drawn. The first is that this is a potential disaster. Flanked on the July 31 stage by two of his most aggressive attackers and several feisty progressives, who are desperate for a big moment to keep their bids alive, the former Vice President could find himself a frequent target.But, as my middle school basketball coach always said, every challenge is an opportunity.
Chalian notes biggest difference in two debate lineups 00:55 De Blasio, who got in late and is improbably hoping to muscle into a race already populated by several iconic candidates of the Left -- Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts -- was fairly hyperventilating in the first debate, breaking in whenever he could. Look for him to create a moment with the moderate former VP on ideological grounds.
These are presidential candidates' go-to debate moves 02:07 O'Rourke could make steak out of hamburger, seeking moderate turf by explaining why he, almost alone among the field, would not change the law to make border crossing a civil rather than misdemeanor criminal offense. Many, including me, viewed the headlong match to decriminalization in the last debate to be a gift to President Trump, who already has announced his strategy to portray Democrats as the party of"open borders.
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