California gubernatorial candidates struggled to break through on the debate stage Tuesday, as Democrats look to capitalize on former Rep. Eric Swalwell\u2019s (D-Calif.) dramatic exit from the crowded field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, billionaire Tom Steyer, former Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) and five other rivals, including Trump-backed Republican Steve Hilton, fought for standout moments in the 90-minute program at Pomona College in the unique, nonpartisan contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faced with questions about affordability, housing and other crises facing the Golden State, the candidates clashed in crosstalk, interruptions and squabbles with moderators just a week after a more muted showdown. Becerra jabbed that Trump is \u201cHilton\u2019s daddy,\u201d while Porter said her colleagues\u2019 back-and-forth was \u201cworse than my teenagers at dinner.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the debate\u2019s high energy, it remains to be seen whether the showing was enough to propel candidates forward in the scrambled field after Swalwell, seen as a Democratic frontrunner, dropped his bid amid over sexual misconduct allegations earlier this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWow, that was a bit of a mess,\u201d said Pomona College student Ryan Kossarian as he stood to ask a question at the debate, hosted by CBS News at the university in Claremont, Calif.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In recent days, Steyer has taken aim at Becerra, who surged in the polls and racked up endorsements after Swalwell left the race The duo are seen as Democrats\u2019 front runner candidates, as they jostle for Swalwell\u2019s previous endorsements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The billionaire has ripped the former Biden health official for accepting funds from Chevron, and blasted him as a career politician. Becerra, meanwhile, has criticized Steyer\u2019s wealth, stating \u201cwe will not let billionaires buy their way into office.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Steyer was the leading Democrat in a CBS News\/YouGov poll released ahead of the debate on Monday, with 15 percent backing behind Hilton\u2019s 16 percent support. Becerra and Bianco were the only two other candidates to garner double digit support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In polling from Emerson College Polling\/Inside California Politics, Becerra had been stuck in single digits before Swalwell\u2019s exit, but surged 7 points ahead of last week\u2019s debate hosted by Nexstar, The Hill\u2019s parent company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heading into Tuesday\u2019s debate, the stakes were high for Steyer and Becerra \u2014 and their fellow Democrats in spitting distance of frontrunner status \u2014 to score a breakout moment that could boost candidacy, with ballots set to go out to voters next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Porter took aim at Steyer\u2019s money moves on Tuesday, when he talked about oil companies causing damage through pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo they were causing great damage while you were investing in them?\u201d Porter interrupted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At another point, Porter stepped in to \u201csummarize the squabbling for everybody,\u201d drawing attention to the back-and-forth chaos throughout the evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several candidates also tussled with the program\u2019s moderators as the eight contenders fought for airtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CBS News\u2019s Julie Watts clashed with Steyer over a question on oil refining, directing the audience to her outlet\u2019s website to crosscheck the billionaire\u2019s prior remarks on the matter. Steyer then protested when Watts moved on to Porter, threatening to \u201ccut the mic if you don\u2019t \u2014 if you\u2019re not respectful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Becerra told Watts that he\u2019d \u201cbe willing to go to court\u201d with her when she pushed back on his plan for a proposed state of emergency to freeze insurance rates. It was one example of a more animated showing for the former Biden administration official compared to last week\u2019s debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan also sought out opportunities for the spotlight, jumping in when some of his rivals complained about their allotted time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
State superintendent Tony Thurmond and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa were also on stage Tuesday, after failing to meet the polling threshold for last week\u2019s debate. They\u2019re among the candidates under scrutiny as Democrats fret about candidate viability in the crowded field. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know what\u2019s interesting? Everybody wants to talk at this debate,\u201d CBS Los Angeles\u2019s Pat Harvey remarked at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the night\u2019s most notable shots, though, were taken across the aisle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t have a governor who doesn\u2019t understand how the government works,\u201d Hilton said in a jab at Becerra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd we don\u2019t need a talking head from Fox News to tell us how the government works,\u201d the former Health and Human Services secretary hit back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked how he would ease Californians\u2019 healthcare affordability woes, Becerra said that \u201cthe first thing we have to do is stop Steve Hilton\u2019s daddy, who has endorsed him,\u201d pointing to the president\u2019s support for the leading GOP candidate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco (R) also bashed California\u2019s Democratic leadership and the party\u2019s contenders on the debate stage, an overarching message of his pitch to voters. He also complained of a lack of airtime after one moderator pledged to go to him next after he interrupted one of Porter\u2019s answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t sure I was even up here any more,\u201d Bianco said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sparring comes as Democrats fret over the race\u2019s frontrunner, so they can coalesce support and avoid the possibility of a Republican-on-Republican general election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though experts say the possibility is increasingly unlikely in the blue stronghold, it\u2019s a longshot outcome under California\u2019s unique primary system, in which the top two vote-getters will advance from the June 2 primary, regardless of political party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Steyer and Becerra were tied at 13 percent each in polling shared by the California Democratic Party last week, leading fellow Democrats but trailing the two top Republicans. The state party Chair Rusty Hicks said last week that candidates struggling in the single digits should \u201cgive serious consideration to stepping back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even if candidates do drop out at this point, though, their names \u2014 like Swalwell\u2019s \u2014- will appear on the primary ballot. Counties start sending mail ballots to voters on May 4. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Californians will also be weighing in this summer on critical House contests across the state in the wake of Proposition 50, which approved a map that gives Democrats several new pickup opportunities in the national battle for control of Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The candidates will meet again next Tuesday in a debate hosted by CNN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n