Debbie Wasserman Schultz lost.
The pundits and papers and people are comparing the democratic debate versus the republican debates, and democrats are coming out far ahead on policy and performance. Last night's debate shows why more democratic debates are needed. They are an important public relations opportunity not for the candidates and for the Democratic Party, which Wasserman Schultz is tasked with advocating for in her position as DNC chair.
She should be proud of all our candidates (except maybe Chafee, who was kind of a nonpresence, yet still acquitted himself better than any republican on the GOP debate stage) and want more opportunities for them to bask in the national spotlight. Yet as recently as yesterday, she appeared on CNN and MSNBC haughtily rejecting calls from others within the DNC for more debates.
The post-democratic debate buzz about both leading democratic candidates and about the Democratic Party has been almost universally positive--and demoralizing for the GOP. The success of last night's debate underscores what a bad party leader Wasserman Schultz is. It also makes her decision to dig in her heels and refuse the many calls for more debates look petulant, short-sighted, and nonsensical.
The other big debate loser was the GOP. No explanation needed.