One Night, Five Democrats, Five Town Halls

CNN held five back-to-back town hall events with five Democratic presidential contenders last night - Sens. Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris and Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

Good stuff from everyone, they all had strong moments at times.

A few takeaways:

While I appreciate the moderate lane Klobuchar has staked out for herself, it came across a bit timid and noncommittal in some of her answers. I'll admit that a lot of issues can't be truly addressed in a couple of minutes on a stage, but she was notably more cautious than her fellow candidates.

I really like Kamala Harris. She's clear about what she stands for, and she has a strong decisive energy about her.

When asked about impeachment proceedings for Donald Trump, she said Congress should take steps towards impeachment but added Democrats must be "realistic about what might be the end result."

One of Harris' best moments came when she was asked about the issue of gun violence in the country and what she would do about it. Here's what she said:

Sen. Kamala Harris says if she is elected President, she will give Congress 100 days "to get their act together and have the courage to pass reasonable gun safety laws, and if they fail to do it, then I will take executive action" https://t.co/KFdn5Viqm1 pic.twitter.com/jVZvDjmVZR

— CNN (@CNN) April 23, 2019

I have to say I almost became emotional as Mayor Pete took to the stage. As a gay man, to see this 37-year-old mayor take to the stage as a real player and handle himself so well was uplifting and energizing.

Mayor Pete had one of the biggest moments of the night when he was asked about the back and forth he's had with Vice President Pence, and a comment made by Trump ally and homocon Richard Grennell, the current ambassador to Germany.

Buttigieg's response: "I'm not a master fisherman, but I know bait when I see and I'm not going to take it." And the crowd went wild.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg on dig from Trump official: I know bait when I see it

Buttigieg refused to engage when asked about a Trump admin. official who accused him of pushing a "hate hoax" during his back-and-forth with VP Mike Pence https://t.co/qDjMO1a1Fn #ButtigiegTownHall pic.twitter.com/wggYBDARTk

— CNN (@CNN) April 23, 2019

A new talking point emerged throughout the night after Sen. Sanders said even the Boston bomber deserved to be able to vote. Sen. Harris concurred saying, "We should have that conversation."

But Buttigieg was clear and concise in his opinion that prisoners should not be allowed to vote. "While incarcerated? No, I don't think so," the South Bend mayor said.

Mayor Buttigieg says he disagrees with Sen. Sanders on felons' right to vote: "Part of the punishment when you're convicted of a crime and you're incarcerated is you lose certain rights ... I think during that period it does not make sense to have an exception" #ButtigiegTownHall pic.twitter.com/0ddBR97Wcv

— CNN (@CNN) April 23, 2019

CNN has recapped each of the candidate's hour-long turns onstage.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar

Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Sen. Bernie Sanders

Sen. Kamala Harris

Mayor Pete Buttigieg

A few more moments from the night:

Sen. Bernie Sanders says the right to vote should be extended "even for terrible people" https://t.co/M3U37R21GK #SandersTownHall pic.twitter.com/5wmhSdvrRj

— CNN (@CNN) April 23, 2019

Sen. Bernie Sanders: "I don't think anybody seriously believes that because I wrote a best-selling book and made money, that I've changed my views and you'll now hear me saying, 'Gee, maybe we want to give tax breaks to millionaires'" https://t.co/5rjsvHJlbN #SandersTownHall pic.twitter.com/zQlazSaX2c

— CNN (@CNN) April 23, 2019

Sen. Elizabeth Warren explains how she’ll pay for her new student debt cancellation and free college plan, saying billionaires will have to “pay something back so everybody else gets a chance.” https://t.co/r8SoPsq3Vp #WarrenTownHall pic.twitter.com/qSd96d4GQ0

— CNN (@CNN) April 23, 2019

"I announced my candidacy in the middle of a blizzard, and he made fun of me for talking about climate change — by the way, happy #EarthDay…I said, 'Hey Donald Trump, the science is on my side.'" -Sen. Amy Klobuchar on controlling the message when facing Trump #KlobucharTownHall pic.twitter.com/4CZiL2mGFQ

— CNN (@CNN) April 23, 2019

Highlights: Students, Parents & Teachers Face Off With Marco Rubio And NRA At Gun Violence Town Hall

Fred Guttenberg faces off with Sen. Marco Rubio

Last night's Town Hall hosted by CNN was a rough ride for Sen. Marco Rubio and NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch as they took questions from parents and students regarding the tragic gun massacre that took place last week in Parkland, Florida.

You can listen to and read a full transcript of the Town Hall moderated by CNN's Jake Tapper here.

Just a few highlights:

• Fred Guttenberg, father of Jaime Guttenberg who was killed in the shooting, told Rubio “your comments this week and those of our president have been pathetically weak.”

“Look at me and tell me. Guns were the factor in the hunting of our kids in this school this week,” Guttenberg said. “And look at me and tell me you accept it and you will work with us to do something about guns.”

Rubio later tweeted, "Banning all semi-auto weapons may have been popular with the audience at #CNNTownHall, but it is a position well outside the mainstream."

Father of Florida school shooting victim confronts Sen. Marco Rubio: "Your comments this week and those of our President have been pathetically weak" https://t.co/puYEwpdgTl #StudentsStandUp https://t.co/AC5Zh1NuJa

— CNN (@CNN) February 22, 2018

• Student Cameron Kasky asked Rubio to say he wouldn’t take more money from the NRA. Rubio has received over $3.3 million from the NRA over the course of his political career.

“Can you tell me you won’t take a single donation from the NRA?” Kasky said. “In the name of the 17 people who died, you can’t ask the NRA to keep their money?” Rubio did not answer, saying only “people buy into my agenda.”

Florida school shooting survivor Cameron Kasky challenges Sen. Marco Rubio: "Can you tell me right now that you will not accept a single donation from the NRA?" https://t.co/LiU42QFBEv #StudentsStandUp https://t.co/p6jlUGFxOs

— CNN (@CNN) February 22, 2018

• Student Ryan Deitsch asked Rubio why it's fallen to students and young people to take up the cause of gun violence after our lawmakers have dodged the issue for so long.

“We would like to know why do we have to be the ones to do this?” Deitsch asked. “Why do we have to speak out to the [state] Capitol? Why do we have to march on Washington, just to save innocent lives?"

Marjory Stoneman Douglas senior Ryan Deitsch asked Florida Sen. Marco Rubio why he and other students "have to march on Washington just to save innocent lives" https://t.co/rXpL971Ypr #StudentsStandUp pic.twitter.com/s8l35SEql1

— CNN (@CNN) February 22, 2018

• And the insanely calm and confident Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Emma González asked NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch if the NRA supports making it harder to obtain semiautomatic and fully automatic weapons.

“Dana Loesch, I want you to know that we will support your two children in a way that you will not,” said Gonzalez. “The shooter at our school obtained weapons that he used on us legally. Do you think that it should be harder to obtain these semiautomatic and the modifications for these weapons that make them fully automatic like bump stocks?”

NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch: "This individual was nuts. ... None of us support people who are crazy, who are dangerous to themselves, who are a danger to others, getting their hands on a firearm." https://t.co/V50uSV8IiG #StudentsStandUp https://t.co/P5SiokWN3S

— CNN (@CNN) February 22, 2018