There was less aggression than you would have expected under the circumstances. No one stood out, either positively or negatively. It is unlikely that the needle moved much, if at all.
That’s the big picture. Here are my other reactions:
1. Biden wasn’t quite as effective as he was last time, but he was OK. He didn’t implode. That’s probably good enough.
2. Klobuchar was fine, but her constant pandering to the people of Iowa gets annoying. She’s running to be president of the entire country, not just Iowa. What will she talk about in March, if she’s still in the race?
3. Sanders and Warren were scapegoating their brains out. I expect that from Sanders; he doesn’t know any better. Warren should.
4. The question was about being the commander-in-chief, not the pacifist-in-chief. If you believe what you heard at the debate, we don’t even need a military.
5. No one would defend free trade, even in Iowa. That’s depressing.