Despite the circus in Washington, we must not ignore the Democrat race to challenge Trump

Eventually one of these candidates will have to face the president so it must be clear they can stand up to scrutiny

Pete Buttigieg is out in front in the Democratic race (Reuters)

The Democratic Party debates can feel like a game of musical chairs. When the music stops, whoever has the lead in the latest polls is heralded with frontrunner status and faces a barrage of attacks from the other candidates for the presidency.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg, of South Bend, Indiana, is the latest to take his turn at the fifth debate in Atlanta. Before him came Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden. The reason? Buttigieg has converted a healthy investment in the early states that will pick the nominee into some great poll numbers. According to the latest surveys in Iowa, the first state to make their pick, he is out in front on his own with a lead over the other frontrunners of well above the margin of error.

Buttigieg has an issue in other states, particularly in South Carolina, the fourth of the early states, and first where white voters do not make up the majority of the electorate. Joe Biden has a commanding lead in the state, mostly thanks to more than solid support from black voters.

While all the action is currently in Washington – where the US ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland has implicated Donald Trump in a quid pro quo with Ukraine by saying that “we followed the president’s orders” – the debates are important in their own way.

It may not seem like it now, but the grilling for Mayor Pete is needed. He is a state-level politician who has not tasted office on the national stage and voters need to be sure he can withstand the scrutiny that comes with becoming a frontrunner. Faltering against his current rivals will only raise questions about how he can deal with Trump.

That is why it is important for us to cover what is said at the debates, even if the larger media circus is concentrated on one seat – whoever is testifying in front of congress in the impeachment hearings.

There is a long way to go until a Democratic nominee is picked, but their style is partly forged in these debates, so we will always be sure to let you know what the important issues are that come out of them.

Yours,

Chris Stevenson

Deputy Premium editor