As 2020 presidential candidates prepare to take the stage at the fifth Democratic debate on Wednesday, the lower tier candidates continue their fight for a spot on the national stage. With a growing field of candidates, the ability to stand out in an already crowded field dwindles.
Former Congressman John Delaney was the first to throw his hat in the race in July of 2017, but that hasn't translated into a successful bid for the Democratic nomination.
Still, Delaney sees his moderate approach to universal healthcare as a way to stand out in a progressive field. "I'm more in the Warren and Sanders camp on the goal, which is to give everyone health care as a basic human right. I just have a very different way of implementing it," Delaney said.
Senator Michael Bennet's goal is to appeal to those in purple states by tackling issues such as healthcare with a more pragmatic approach.
"I don't want to fight a losing battle on Medicare for all over the next 10 years because it will strip from us the opportunity to deliver a better economic chance for most Americans," Bennet said.
The Colorado senator's ideals have not translated in polls, but Bennet has found a silver lining.
"My polling is never good except in one respect, which is that people that I expected to be 20 points ahead of me are like one point ahead of me or two points ahead of me," Bennet said.
Former Congressman Joe Sestak sees persistence as the key to winning over Iowa caucus-goers.
"It's tough to keep going at times, but that's what's most admired. I mean, in any kind of challenge," Sestak said.
Sestak has spent most of his time campaigning in early states, walking through New Hampshire and buying ads in Iowa.
Wednesday's debate marks the first time former HUD secretary Julián Castro will not be on the stage. Castro's campaign has consistently focused on marginalized communities in the U.S.
"I have been speaking up for the most vulnerable people in our country, whether it's people sleeping on the streets of Las Vegas or living in a trailer park in Iowa or in a D.C. jail serving time," Castro said.
With less than 100 days to go before the Iowa caucus and increasing requirements to qualify for the remaining primary debates, 2020 hopefuls remain optimistic that their tactics will prevail.
Updated November 20 to reflect that Bennet is not the only senator left in the race.
Cheddar Politics takes a deeper look at the takeaways from the Georgia primary elections on Tuesday. Georgia Public Broadcasting's local and state politics reporter, Stephen Fowler, joins us to discuss the limits of Trump endorsements and break down what the outcome in each race means.
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Following the mass shooting at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 children and two adults dead, the debate over gun control has been reignited. While studies have shows most Americans agree on some additional regulations, there hasn't been much legislative traction even as gun violence worsens in the country. Brian Lemek, the executive director of Defend The Vote and the former executive director at Brady PAC for gun control, joined Cheddar to discuss reform efforts. "The lawmakers that we have aren't passing these at the federal level," he said. "That's the problem. We have the wrong people in charge."
The crypto industry is still reeling from Terra's recent crash. The company's blockchain was temporarily halted earlier this month after the collapse of its cryptocurrency Luna (LUNA) and its stablecoin TerraUSD (UST), which led to almost $45 billion being wiped from the tokens' market caps within a week. Now, many are left wondering what Terra's struggles mean for the broader crypto market. Reeve Collins, CEO of the NFT platform BLOCKv, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell from Davos 2022 to discuss.
The average city in California has a 38% higher cost of living than the average American city, according to a cost of living index. For many, the general minimum wage of $15/hour just doesn't cut it. Anti-poverty activist Joe Sanberg wants to get the minimum wage changed to $18/hour. He joins Cheddar News to discuss the Living Wage Act of 2022.
