WILL WARREN SHINE? She is the only first-tier candidate speaking on the first night. Can she make a strong impression by sounding both wonky and punchy? After seeing her on tape, I think the answer will be yes.
RIGHT VS. LEFT: Since Warren is behind in the polls and has a history with Biden, expect her to get personal in her criticism. Bernie, the following night, is more likely to stick to his own talking points. Biden will have the advantage of having a day to consider his responses to Warren; he will have the delicate task of swatting away her arguments while continuing to keep the focus on beating Trump. Can he pull that off in his limited speaking time? TBD.
CAN KAMALA CRUSH IT? Harris has the personality and the talent to command the stage. This may be her last, best chance, so she had better take it.
WHICH SECOND-TIER CANDIDATE WILL EMERGE? One or two of the lesser-known candidates are bound to impress with their zingers and become bigger factors in the race. The rest are just doomed to obscurity and an early electoral death. For these candidates, as they say on reality shows, the stakes have never been higher.
WILL TRUMP’S TWEETS OVERSHADOW THEM ALL? Very possibly. It’s going to be a very strange dynamic, but it may well work to the advantage of his targets–most likely to be Warren, Sanders, and above all, “Sleepy Joe.”