THE LEDE

There was a Democratic primary debate last night — you have missed it, or already forgotten most of what happened.

Well, was Joe Biden high? We expected Wednesday’s fifth Democratic presidential debate to center around Pete Buttigieg, with the other candidates eager to stop the 37-year-old mayor’s rise in polls. That absolutely did not happen. Instead, if you watch one moment, make it the tense and awkward exchange on marijuana and race between Cory Booker, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris.

But if you’re a Democratic primary voter who wants to see what candidates have to say without them getting too deep in an argument about any one issue, maybe you loved this debate. And, on its face, it was a good night for Harris, Booker, and Amy Klobuchar in particular. But it’s hard to see it really changing the current trajectory of the race, especially with impeachment hearings due to resume in just a couple hours.

Bloomberg’s China detente: It was a little awkward, but why not: A top Republican banker was the one to announce that Mike Bloomberg had made his decision to run for President. In Beijing, from where I'm writing this newsletter. It was a reminder of yet another way that Bloomberg is different from all the other candidates: He's pretty pro-China. He has defended President Xi Jinping and what the Chinese system has accomplished. Bloomberg LP is the only American news organization that has made the accommodations it takes to build a business in China. The rest of the Democrats will, if elected, likely continue some version of Trump’s effort to take a harder line. Bloomberg is the candidate of China detente.

READ RECEIPTS

Texting with Michael Bennet

Michael Bennet is a thoughtful, policy-minded Senator of the old school whose presidential candidacy — a low-drama, get-things-done moderate — hasn't caught fire. He's now betting it all on New Hampshire, and texted me from there Saturday.

BEN SMITH: Senator - thanks for doing this! To begin with, can you send over a selfie -- and tell me where you are and what you’re doing right now? (Oh - this is Ben Smtih from BuzzFeed, in case you were wondering …)

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Selfie of Michael Bennet. MICHAEL BENNET: Hi Ben, here’s a selfie in front of the state house in Concord, NH. Beautiful day, a little chilly. Heading off to New England College for a town hall.

BEN SMITH: You’re focusing heavily on New Hampshire. What do you think you can get right there everyone else is getting wrong? I should add that that is also the most perfectly staged selfie I’ve gotten so far. MICHAEL BENNET: One town hall after another. Not giving speeches, but taking every question until the last one is answered. And there are a lot of questions… emojis of people raising their hands. My daughters won’t believe it, and to be honest, I used portrait mode by accident.

BEN SMITH: Ha. I want to ask you about President Obama’s comment last week about Twitter: IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Article excerpt reading, “Voters, including Democrats, are not driven by the same views that are reflected on certain left-leaning Twitter feeds, or the activist wing of our party,” he warned. “And that’s not a criticism to the activist wing - their job is to poke and prod and text and inspire and motivate. But the candidate’s job, whoever that ends up being, is to get elected.” BEN SMITH: Do you agree?

MICHAEL BENNET: Agree 100%. I’ve been saying the same thing for months. There are two primaries going on: one is a Twitter primary, and one is a primary concerning real, living human beings that want to know their kids are going to be able to go to a good school, that when you work you can earn a decent living, and want to retire with dignity. That also don’t want us to leave the next generation in the lurch when it comes to climate change. BEN SMITH: He also said the activists play an important role -- but you seem to think they’re destructive?

MICHAEL BENNET: Disagree, they have a vital role to play in the democracy. But in the end, we have to reach a result and that requires a better quality of elected leadership than we have today. My complaint is not with the activists but with the politicians. BEN SMITH: As impeachment hearings continue, what are you watching for -- as a potential juror? MICHAEL BENNET: Whether Donald Tump is going to continue to stonewall in real-time Congress’ legitimate oversight of his reprehensible activity.

BEN SMITH: Are you worried the trial is going to make it impossible for you to run a real campaign in New Hampshire in January? MICHAEL BENNET: *Cross armed man emoji* We need to do both, and will do both. BEN SMITH: One person who won’t need to worry about this is Mayor Pete. Does he … irk you as much as he does some of the other more experienced people running?

MICHAEL BENNET: On the contrary, he and I both started at the local level. The difference is that my school district’s budget was 3x the size of South Bend’s budget, and I have spent the last ten years in almost every fight that matters in the Senate. BEN SMITH: I have to ask you about the Washington Post piece about you and your brother, who is at the Times. Is this you? IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Excerpt from an article reading: Still, earlier this year, he had a habit of picking up his cellphone and disappearing at the worst possible time - Friday evenings, when his team was closing the section. We he walking to You-Know-Who? “I’m 1,000 percent sure it was Michael,” said one of James’ co-workers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss his boss.

MICHAEL BENNET: I obviously can’t say for sure, but I doubt it. I usually talk to James from DC when we are in the same time zone, and that’s never on a Friday. BEN SMITH: And finally, I think you maybe winning the primary as judged by the amount of garbage you’ve eaten on the trail. Any recommendations for our audience??

MICHAEL BENNET: Well clearly you’ve never eaten at the Red Barn diner in Manchester. Baked beans and a Moxie for breakfast. IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A plate of beans, sausage, and eggs.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Michael Bennet unscrewing a bottle of Moxie soda.

BEN SMITH: That is high quality NH pandering. Any other favs before I let you go? MICHAEL BENNET: It’s not pandering if you go back a second… and even a third time. BEN SMITH: Ha. Well thanks for doing this Senator!

MICHAEL BENNET: Thanks! Come join me for breakfast sometime. The best places serve it all day. I leave you with this reflection from the trail. IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A transcription at Mark Twain Overlook reading: And I remember Muscatine- still more pleasantly- for its summer sunsets. I have never seen any on either side of the ocean that equaled them. The sunrises are also said to be exceedingly fine. I do not know.” - Mark Twain. This lookout sire is the former location of Muscatine’s first radio station, KTNT, (Know The Naked Truth) operated by Norman G. Baker from 1925-1931. BEN SMITH: Thanks Senator. See you up there.

ON THE TRAIL WITH BUZZFEED NEWS

Also from the debate: Nidhi writes that Joe Biden got around talking explicitly about #MeToo by talking instead about “punching at” domestic violence. And Molly points out that it was another debate with no questions about LGBT rights.

Henry reported on Mayor Pete’s appearance at Tea Party candidate forum in 2010 and why it’s being seen now in a new light.

Also from Henry this week, Pete’s time at McKinsey is still a secret but the campaign says they’ve asked to be released from the NDA.

Speaking of Mike Bloomberg and China, I scooped that he wouldn’t be attending his company’s big China summit this week.

Current New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the former mayor’s stop-and-frisk apology is “hard to believe,” Matt Berman wrote.

And finally, Addy texted with Eric Swalwell — the member of Congress and former presidential candidate — about whether or not he farted during a Hardball interview. He denies that he did.

📝 This letter was edited and brought to you by Ben Smith, Veronica Dulin, Kate Nocera, Matt Berman and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.

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