People are still praising Bill de Blasio's debate performance. Voters don’t seem to care.
Some of the standouts from the first round of the Democratic primary debates — namely Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and former Housing Secretary Julián Castro — have seen some significant jumps in early polls. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who many considered to be a pleasant surprise during the debate, hasn't been so fortunate.
De Blasio's decision to run for president was met with eye-rolls and sighs, especially among his New York constituents — "disdain for de Blasio seems to unite New Yorkers from across the political spectrum," writes Reihan Salam in The Atlantic — but the mayor showed up in Miami ready to roll and the response from pundits wasn't half bad.
Chris Matthews called him a surprising "heavyweight." Meanwhile, Joe Scarborough dubbed him a "street fighter" and Vox declared him one of the night's four winners. In the same Atlantic article, Salam admits that de Blasio "distinguished himself with eagerness to interrupt his fellow presidential aspirants and to stake out the most leftward position available on any given issue." For example, on the first night of the debates, only Warren and de Blasio raised their hands when the candidates were asked if they would give up their private insurance for a government-run plan.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Still, none of this means de Blasio has any "staying power," Salam notes. Indeed, just one week after the debate, a Quinnipiac poll surveyed 554 voters. How many of them voted for the seemingly upstart mayor? Zilch. De Blasio was similarly bereft of support in a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll, but did manage to hit the 1 percent threshold in an Economist/YouGov tally. Progress?
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
Trump gets $289M break, first criminal trial date
Speed Read The former president's fraud bond has been reduced to $175 million from $464 million
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - March 26, 2024
Cartoons Tuesday's cartoons - the House GOP abandon ship, Joe Biden sets his stall, and more
By The Week US Published
-
US-Israel rift widens after UN cease-fire resolution
Speed Read The U.S. declined to veto a U.N. resolution calling for a two-week "immediate cease-fire" in Gaza
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump gets $289M break, first criminal trial date
Speed Read The former president's fraud bond has been reduced to $175 million from $464 million
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US-Israel rift widens after UN cease-fire resolution
Speed Read The U.S. declined to veto a U.N. resolution calling for a two-week "immediate cease-fire" in Gaza
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New Jersey first lady exits race to replace Menendez
Speed Read Tammy Murphy dropping out paves the way for Rep. Andy Kim to become the state's next senator
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Russia blames Ukraine for deadly ISIS Moscow attack
Speed Read Putin has ignored the Islamic State's claim of responsibility for the concert hall shooting
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump-RNC pact puts Trump legal bills ahead of GOP
Speed Read The former president has struck a deal with the Republican National Committee to put donations toward his legal bills
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Vietnam president resigns amid scandal
Speed Read Vietnam loses its second president in two years as Vo Van Thuong steps down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Texas migrant law in limbo after Supreme Court OK
Speed Read The law has been blocked again, mere hours after the Supreme Court allowed the state to arrest migrants
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Cubans rally for 'power and food' in rare protests
Speed Read The protests came after 18-hour rolling blackouts and food supply shortages
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published