All four people on an MSNBC panel Thursday morning called former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke the loser of the first Democratic debate.
O'Rourke took broadsides from Bill de Blasio and Julián Castro on health care and immigration, and the once-adored Texas Senate candidate was off-balance for much of the night on the crowded stage Wednesday night in Miami.
University of Texas Professor Victoria DeFrancesco said O'Rourke was "not a good debater" and had seen his momentum coming off his close loss last year to Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) vanish.
"Something's going to have to change for the next debate, or he's not going to survive much longer," she said.
When MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle went around for winners and losers, the unanimous call on the latter was O'Rourke.
Florida Democratic strategist Fernand Amandi said it was a "tough night for Beto O'Rourke."
"I thought he hurt himself last night," he said.
"Julián won, Beto lost," DeFrancesco said.
MSNBC contributor Charlie Sykes of The Bulwark said President Donald Trump was the winner because of the debate's tack to the left, to his benefit.
"Loser, no question about it, Beto, who I think is toast," Sykes said.
NBC News reporter Jonathan Allen said it was only a question of who was going to take the "kill shot" at O'Rourke on the stage.
"It ended up being Castro ... O'Rourke definitely the loser last night," he said.