I'm Will Flitzer and you're in the situation room live tonight from the Historic Fox Theater right here in Detroit where we're just hours away from the first of our two

CNN Democratic presidential debates. Ten candidates will face off

including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren tonight but this is a big night for all of the men and women who want to be president of the United States.

Those who need to boost their poll numbers to qualify for the next round of debates,

and those leading the pack who need to get an edge up on their rivals.

A hundred percent Wolf.

I'm Chris Cuomo.

A pleasure to be with the captain as always.

We're here outside the Fox Theater.

Excitement is building. You're seeing different the Fox Theater. Excitement is building.

You're seeing different waves of supporters come through.

And there's no reason to exaggerate the significance.

It's very simple.

You will never see these collections of candidates tonight and tomorrow again because not all

them are going to make the next cut so what do you do tonight and tomorrow night to

save your fate the candidates have had time now to walk through and take a look at the

inside of the stage and also to review their attacks on their rivals since the last

showdown. all right?

Now, one after the other, how does it look?

Does negativity work?

What is that angle?

Will anybody talk about Detroit, about Flint, about people,

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