Name: Crystal Zhang

Date: October 14, 2015

QUALIFICATIONS: What experience

and beliefs to the candidates have

that they say makes them qualified to
be the next president? Which do you
think is stronger?
AUDIENCE: What audience/ group of
voters does each candidate seem to
be trying to capture? Does it seem
effective?

Period: 4

Democratic Primary Debate #1

Hillary Clinton
Bernie Sanders
US Senate for NY, Secretary of State
Senator from Vermont, Chairman the
(2008-2012); been a principle part of
Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs
multiple presidential administrations
Small business owners: says her grandfather was a
factory worker and talks about some policies to help
small businesses; Obama supporters: talks a lot about
working in his administration; Progressives: she really
tries to get the point across that shes a progressive

Middle class: yes, very accommodating to middle

class, saying he will take away their burden of having
to sustain the economy, wants to shift this to wall
street; college-aged voters: free college agenda, wall
street speculation to make it affordable, very popular
with youths

ISSUES: Which issues does each

Avoids topic of Marijuana legalization; Firmly for

increased gun control; Against big banks; Prowomens rights; pro-expansion of health care;

Against Iraq War; Firmly supportive of Black Lives

Matter; Against Wall Street Lobbying ; Very much for
Wall Street Speculation; Wants to expanding Social
Security; stressing importance of paying attention to
climate change; Very supportive of jail reforms

TECHNIQUES OF PERSUASION:

Calling out Sanders for gun control

policy, always saying how horrible
Republicans are in a room full of
Democrats definitely helps

Attempting to steer debate away from trivialities

(like the emails) into serious issues helped him;
millionaires and billionaires and Wall Street
come up a lot as sources of problems but the
audience was very receptive

American people, middle class,

Middle Class, American People, Poverty, Democracy,

Affordable College

Attacks against Sanders seemed very

prepared,

Wall Street Speculation, free public

college, Political Revolution

Facial expression never really changes

but shes usually smiling, helped when it
didnt seem robotic

Shifts around a lot, on a subconscious

level this probably makes the audience
less receptive to him

CNN favoring Clinton, many questions

addressing her policy changes over the
years,

Media largely ignores Sanders choosing

to focus mostly on Clinton; large internet
support, online polls indicate a very
large increase in approval

candidate seem most comfortable

with? Which do they try to avoid
answering directly? Explain your
reaction to their stance on the issues.
Examples of candidates use of
glittering generalities, name-calling,
emotional appeals, avoidance, etc.
Did these examples help or hurt the
candidate?
FAVORITE PHRASES: Examples of
candidates use of slogans and
buzzwords. Were they used
effectively or not?

REHEARSED RESPONSES:

Examples of candidates use of

prepared phrases or retorts that seem
spontaneous. Were they used
effectively or not?
CUTAWAYS: Examples of non-verbal
expressions, gesturing, audience
reactions seen during debate. Did
these images help or hurt the
candidates?
POST DEBATE ANALYSIS: Examples
of horse-race words/phrases used by
commentators, pundits, others. Did
they favor a candidate? Examples of
challenges to factual accuracy of
candidates claims. Were candidates

Take general notes on the back and state who you think was the overall winner of the debate and why.

Name: Crystal Zhang

Date: October 14, 2015

Period: 4

statements supported by facts?

I thought the overall winner of the debate was Sanders. Despite being attacked by all the other candidates, eh refused
to lower himself to the same tactics. Also, he stood very firmly and very consistently behind all of his policies and
stances on issues. Some of the other candidates would flounder when presented with unexpected questions, such as
the one on Edward Snowden, but Sanders was able to deliver very eloquent responses. His speech was loaded with a
lot of powerful phrases, most of which included his attack on the 1% and of his support for affordable education.
Sanders unabashedly proclaims himself a Democratic Socialist and is unafraid to be under the scrutiny of the other
candidates or under Coopers rapid-fire questions. Though Clintons language was also very powerful and she was also
very composed, I personally thought she fell back on attacking Republicans and other candidates in most of her
arguments instead of actually elaborating on her points. Though this makes for great politics and great approval
ratings, Clintons tactics seemed much more superficial to me.

Take general notes on the back and state who you think was the overall winner of the debate and why.