Professor watching the debate with us and well join us live in a few minutes to breakdown the big take aways from tonights debate. The debate lasted for three hours. If you didnt watch it all, well get you caught up. Here are the highlights in under two minutes. Reporter in the third democratic debate, one after another, the top contenders on the stage open the debate with a common message, their mission to defeat donald trump. What unites us up here, the ten of us is much stronger than what divides us. Reporter but the unified front quickly dismantled after the conversation shifted to health care. Former Vice President joe biden going headtohead with Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders over their support for medicare for all. 160 Million People that like their health care now can keep it. I never met anybody who likes their health care insurance. Reporter chiming into the debate taking aim at sanders. While bernie wrote the bill, i read the bill. Reporter and in the harshest attack of the night, julian kals stroe ca castro called in bidens mental fitness. Are you forgetting what you said . This is why president ial debates are becoming unwatchable. Thats an election. Thats what were here for. Reporter it was castros memory that didnt serve him right and incorrectly quoted the Vice President. Biden and castro invoking president obama throughout the night and finding themselves in the hot seat over the immigration policies. If you make a mistake with those deportations . The president did the best thing that was able to be done how about you . Im the Vice President of the United States. As the night went on, candidates spent less time on each other and more plans for gun control. Hell yes well take your ak47. Sharing their vision for the country if elected the nations last leader. Now that the third debate came to a close, the candidates will return tomorrow many looking to keep holding on until the next debate. It was quite fiery to start. Lets bring in expert analysis. Joining us is the assistant professor of Political Science and i thought to start out, there was a lot of feistiness early on and candidates going at each other with some sharp lines and going at President Trump, as well. How do you look at this debate in terms of effectiveness and intensity compared with the other two, well, there is more than two but split up. So many people. What weve seen before when the candidates got together. Well, so i think that this definitely the first set of debates we saw very little sort of poking directly at each other and more in the second debate and i think weve now sort of risen to another level of needing to not just say who you are, but how you are dif better what is being proposed by other candidates on the stage. So i think that, you know, weve reached that new level. As for its effectiveness, it is sort of too early to tell exactly, but i do think that often some opportunities for other candidates. So we were talking before the debate about the top picks. Can you expand . The debate started with a large chunk of time devoted to k h. It makes sense. Its the most important issue on s o day to day because its life, affects people we love and care about. And then the topic switched to racism and to criminal Justice Reform and gun control, and i thought that was very interesting because it showed to me sort of where the party thinks it should be solving problems, where it should be making progress, and thats not something that the parties really focused on as much. Overtly in the past. You mentioned health care at the top and they spend probably at least 40 minutes at the very outset of the debate discussing Health Care Policies and how to do it and who is right and wrong. Lets hear from Elizabeth Warren on Health Insurance. Ive actually never met anybody who likes their Health Insurance company. Ive met people who like their doctors. I met people who like their nurses. I met people who like their pharmacist. I met people who like their physical therapist. What they want is access to health care. Whats your take away from that . I think shes got it right. I mean, when it comes to peoples opinions about health care, policy change, what they are afraid of is losing access to those. So i think its really important that whoever is surviving to the Iowa Caucuses and the New Hampshire primaries is able to balance how they are talking about the issue. Now gun control it was another large issue especially this takes place in texas with what happened in el paso, that tragic, tragic event. Talk a little bit about that. First, actually, lets listen to senator kahlcamillKamala Harris shes saying. I would say hey, joe, instead of saying we cant, lets say yes, we can. [ laughter ] lets be constitutional. [ laughter ] we got a constitution. Yes, we can. Okay. So talking about gun control. What was your response to that . Yeah, so i mean, that exchange which i thought was really interesting just for its use of past campaign punch line to demonstrate a point was about whether or not president s can make substantive change via individual executive action. Yeah. And i mean, they each have a point. Some things can be done by executive action because the president is in charge of the executive branch of the bureaucracy, but there are a lot of things that do have to be done via congress, so it is a tricky situaton for whoever inherits the problem. I thought it was pretty interesting for beto orourke in the state of texas to say yeah, well take your ar15, your ak47, youre not going to have that if im president. That was an interesting stand he took. China and trade was a big issue and again, nobody was debating tonight whether we have anfectianfect ti an effective policy today, none of them believe we do but varying ideas how we should go forward and here is joe biden on trade. Were either going to make policy or china will make the rules of the road. We make up 25 of the world economy. We need another 25 to join us, and i think elizabeth senator warren is correct, at the table has to be labor and has to be environmentalists. The fact of the matter is china, the problem isnt the trade deficit. The problem is they are steeling our intellectual property. What was your assessment on joe biden both on the issue of trade and just his overall effectiveness tonight . I thought there was moments where he was strong but also kind of losing steam and direction at other points in the debate. Yeah, so to your first question about Foreign Policy itself, i think he had sort of a good point that the United States part of our power in the world over the last 70 years has been the fact that we have led and the president is the leader of the u. S. When it comes to our foreign policies. So thats really important at butte attribute of whoever gets selected. As to Vice President bidens performance, there were moments where someone who is as experienced a politician as he is gave surprisingly rough answers, not polished answers and youd expect he has enough practice at giving answers to interviews and debates he would give better answers. But hes still a top contender, you think . I mean, i think hes got a lot of name recognition and support amongst the public so were going to have to sort of see what happens in iowa and New Hampshire to have a really clear idea but for right now, hes certainly leading in the polls and warren and senators warren and sanders are not far behind. Im not sure of this debate separated any of the top three. I thought Kamala Harris was strong. Im not sure whether klobuchar and castro can survive going forward. Just based on what we saw tonight and thats just one persons opinion. Yeah, i think were getting to the point where money is really going to become an issue for these campaigns to run good organizations, run good campaigns and get voices out, and so for the candidates like klobuchar, castro, yang, we might be seeing the end stages of their campaigns. All right. We thank you so much for coming in and giving us your expert insight. It is definitely wonderful to have you. Appreciate it. Thanks, rebecca. Thank you. The website 538 kept track of the number of words spoken. This was taken from the abc news debate transcript. Joe biden at top. If youre counting, someone was. 600 words more than the next close e. R than cory booker. The audience was quiet throughout most of the debate and shortly before 7 30 hacklers in the crowd interrupted the candidates. Things that are important, things unimportant. That protest erupted when biden was responding to the most significant professional set back he faced but wasnt really clear who was doing the yelling or what they were yelling. The cameras never focused on them and after a few moments of disruption, the debate continued. I couldnt tell what was being said. Yeah. A Live Audience of 3500 people watched live. Millions more watched it televised through abc. Kate larson joining us from a watch party in San Francisco. Kate . Reporter well, dan, ama, it was a hot day here in San Francisco and i can tell you it was hotter inside mannys across the street where hundreds of people packed in to watch the debate tonight. With the top ten candidates on stage, there was one pairing in particular people were watching closely including San Franciscos supervisor raphael who showed up to mannys on a mission for the viewing party. Im excited to see biden and warren on the same stage because im getting excited about warren and i want to see how this kind of plays out this evening. Reporter former Vice President joe biden, Elizabeth Warren, senator Bernie Sanders and other candidates laid out plans about medicare for all and choice within the Health Care System but some were left wanting different answers and solutions. Im really looking forward to people addressing like Preventative Care as opposed to just focussing on sick care. Reporter so in the whole first portion of the debate all about health care, you didnt hear what you wanted to hear . No, i didnt. Reporter abcs moderators came in with top questions including one from Lindsey Davis to senator Kamala Harris. It does contradict some of your prior positions. Among them, the legalization of marijuana and now you dont. Reporter senator harris answers suffice. As a prosecutor, you have to work within the existing system and sometimes that can be hard. Reporter okay. So most people i spoke to said there are a few candidates they like but actually really watching debates to decide in such a wide field who they want to be the democratic candidate in the president ial race next year. Back to you. What moments in the debate got a lot of reaction with your goup at mannings . Reporter well, a lot of peopleere tasomment to biden a forgetting things. That is memorable and could be valuable with a wide field, some felt it was a little low blow especially considering that biden is one of the older candidates in the race right now. The other moment, which i know you guys have talked about was beto orourke saying yes, we would confiscate peoples ar15s. Were in San Francisco so a lot of people did agree but pointed out that could be a tough sell in other parts of the country so well have to see how all of this plays out. Live in the mission district, im kate larson, back to you guys. Kate, thank you. While the debate was among democra democrats, it was closely watched by republicans hoping to maintain control of the white house in the next election. Were joined live by lisa with perspective. Lisa . Reporter ama, i spoke with the chairman of the group a short time ago here in the city. In one word he described the debate as dull. This coming from john denneth who watched the debate from his home tonight. Not a lot of fireworks, not a lot of controversy, not a lot of pyre fire in general he said that makes him confident President Trump will win the election. The incumbent always has an enormous advantage number one. If the economy stays this strong, it will be difficult to overcome even a controversial polarizing president like the one we have. Reporter and the front runners tonight he thought were Amy Klobuchar and cory booker. Back here live now, someone he did not think did very well was Kamala Harris. Back to you guys in the studio. Interesting. Lisa, in the end, though, who does the republican chair think will go up against President Trump in 2020 . He thinks it will be Elizabeth Warren. He says she has really good messaging. She has good stamina and not too polarizing to most in the party. All right. Lisa reporting live for us tonight from San Francisco, thank you. So many different perspectives. We look at the same thing and see many Different Things with the individual candidates. President trump was a popular topic in the debate tonight, he spoke at the house gop retreat in baltimore. Mr. Trump touched on the debate a little bit in his speech saying he expected many people were watching his speech which aired on cspan instead of the debate. Earlier in the day he gave predictions on the democratic field. It would look to me like it would be Elizabeth Warren and it looks like joe may be will be able to get there, maybe not, i dont know. And certainly bernie is there. Hes number three. And tonight over houston the Trump Campaign flew this massive banner declaring socialism will kill houstons economy. 20 candidates remain in the running for the democratic president ial nomination. Six others have ended their campaigns. The next debate is coming up otober 15th and possibly the 16th. 11 candidates have qualified at this point. All right. Here is a look at what more is coming up tonight on this special edition of abc 7 news at 8 00. Im dan noyes. I obtained the autopsy report in the death of an Italian Police officer. What does it mean in the case against two bay area teens . 85 is meant to make workers into employees but not working for everyone. Im dion lim with owners of one industry that say it will destroy their business. Im sand ya hya patel, if yu so that early retirement we planned. Its going ok . Great. Now im spending more time with the kids. Im introducing them to crab. Crab . They love it. So, you mentioned that that money we set aside. Yeah. The kids and i want to build our own crab shack. Ahhh, youre finally building that outdoor kitchen. Yup with room for the whole gang. See how investing with a j. P. Morgan advisor can help you. Visit your local chase branch. Doesnt mean you got to spend a lot because dennys brought back the super slam™. With eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage and buttermilk or pumpkin pancakes. All for just 6. 99. The 6. 99 super slam™ is back see you at dennys the face of employment in california is about to change dramatically. Hundreds of thousands of soc l socalled gig economy workers are about to classified as employees. Dion lim live for us in San Francisco with what exactly this means and dion, not everybody is happy with this. Reporter no, they are not. 9. 2 million americans are ex ekt a expected to be part of the gig economy by 20211. He. Here its those gig workers that say if they are classified that way it will take away their livelihood. Greg has been in the Trucking Industry for more than 40 years and believes the passing of a bill expected to be signed into law will hurt his business. So much so hes joining forces with a competitor, Debbie Ferrari to find a solution. Ive been working on it for a year and a half. I had 100 meetings with senators and Assembly Members and staff. Reporter the bill will change the way workers are classified making all laborers in california employees instead of independent contractors. It will give them more rights on the job, access to more benefits, a more stable work place. Reporter but for trucking brokers like greg and debbie, they say its not about the money but taking care of their employees and contractors who arent complaining. We cant force them into being employees. Thats not fair. They are making five times minimum wage. Reporter despite the bill affecting hundreds of thousands of workers in nail salons and medical fields, uber and lyft have been the most vocal. These drivers are waiting. They are waiting to pick up passengers from the airport. Nobody pays them for their waiting time here. Reporter complaining of low wages and unfair working conditions. Drivers like alva who also is a social activist for the group. Currently i get paid less than 50 than what i did four years ago than when i started. Reporter Ralph Jacobson who drove a taxi for decades said if gig workers are upset about wages, they should find no work, not support ab 5. I dont want my life up ended or turned around or compromised by a select group of drivers that came in with no experience. Reporter whether a worker is for or against the bill, one thing is certain, there will be exceptions. It could be recrafted where there are unusual hardships over the application doesnt appear as smooth. Reporter back out here live now, just this week, uber announced if ab 5 indeed passes, the