Moderating a live debate with 10 candidates vying for equal speaking time is a very difficult task; especially when you’re having to deal with time constraints and technical snafus.
But some of last night’s participants were still unsatisfied with the topics the NBC News Group moderators (in collaboration with the DNC) brought up, most notably the lack of time spent on climate change, a major for Democratic party representatives and their constituents.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee, who has made clear that climate change is his main issue for the campaign, and got a question on it, believed the subject deserved more airtime.
“This is an existential threat to life on this planet and seven minutes is not enough for the candidates, the Washington governor told Politico’s Michael Calderone “We have to make it the top priority.”
Inslee reportedly spoke 875 words over 4 minutes and 57 seconds. Those are the fewest number of words and the fewest minutes and seconds of any of the candidates.
New Jersey senator Cory Booker also seemed to express frustration that “a lot of issues,” including climate change, didn’t get enough attention.
The folks at NBC News will have a second opportunity with a new batch of candidates tonight: Former vice president Joe Biden, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, California senator Kamala Harris, South Bend, Ind. mayor Pete Buttigieg, New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Colorado senator Michael Bennet, California congressman Eric Swalwell, Colorado governor John Hickenlooper, businessman Andrew Yang, and author/activist Marianne Williamson.
Let’s see how candidates, moderators, and control room staffers do, beginning tonight at 9 p.m. ET.