I doubt it had anything to do with the debate or the regulars. This was an election about race. And a pasty white guy showing up to patronize a firebrand woman of color would have just made it worse.
I agree about his not showing up for the debate—because the one who is ahead, or thinks he is ahead, never shows up. So it is fairly meaningless.
But I disagree that this is about race.
It was a stealth election, that’s all. And now magnified by the worship of anything new and the addiction to celebrities.
As someone said on Facebook, they are doing an Obama. She is the Magic Latina.