Inside Our 2020 Candidate Video Project

Also, somewhat to my surprise, I think the interviews really showed some of the ways that the leftward lurch of the Democratic Party has been overstated. On the single-payer question, for instance, there was very little “Medicare for All or bust” rhetoric. Even clearly liberal candidates — like Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Cory Booker — indicated they’d likely focus on improving the private health insurance system.

[See their answers on health care here.]

Sydney: Totally. That was surprising, especially since so many candidates talk on the trail about their support for “Medicare for All.” One thing I really enjoyed was getting to learn more about the candidates as people. They so rarely talk candidly about themselves, but I thought some of their most revealing answers were to the personal questions we asked — about their comfort food on the campaign trail, for instance, and about what they do to relax. We also got to spend a little bit of time with them before the interviews, an informal setting that was actually (at least for me) pretty unique.

[See their answers on comfort food and how they relax.]

Alex: Yes! Most of the interviews I did were at our office in New York, so it was fun to see how some of them handled being in the newsroom. Ms. Warren and Ms. Harris attracted pretty sizable crowds and handled it in pretty different ways — Ms. Warren with a kind of impromptu mini-town hall about tech regulation, Ms. Harris by focusing on a very animated conversation with Sam Sifton, the food editor. (Other candidates were, ah, less recognized.)

Sydney: At least one waved and … no one waved back. I also got to travel a bit for some of the interviews I did (mostly to D.C., to be fair). But we met Beto O’Rourke at a sound stage in Austin. And we traveled to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to interview Bernie Sanders.

Alex: I have to ask, what was it like to do that interview with Mr. Sanders after your rather contentious exchange with him back in May?

Sydney: You know, he was very pleasant! He answered all of our questions, including the personal ones that he is known to vehemently dislike. One of my favorite moments was when he started talking about his grandchildren. It was the most tender I’ve ever seen him.

[See all of Mr. Sanders’s answers here.]

Alex: That’s sweet. It was interesting to see which candidates were looser on the personal questions versus who seemed happier talking about policy. I kind of judge a number of the candidates who refused to name an actual most embarrassing recent moment, especially in contrast to someone like Amy Klobuchar, who delivered one involving an airplane and her underwear. That’s candor!

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