MIAMI Sen. Kamala Harris first big moment of the debate was saying, America does not want to witness a food fight. Her second was heaving an entire tray of spaghetti in former Vice President Joe Biden s face.

The conversation devolved into undecipherable crosstalk a few minutes into the Democratic debate on Thursday, as 10 presidential candidates tried to stand out at the same time. Biden had just responded to a direct swipe at his age from Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) when Harris stepped in and cut through the noise .

America does not want to witness a food fight, the California senator said. They want to know how were going to put food on their table.

On a night that featured the two Democratic front-runners Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) it was Harris who consistently controlled the debate stage time and time again with clear and measured answers, direct and pointed shots, and lucid and tremendously personal examples.

As the only black person on this stage, I would like to speak on the issue of race, Harris said, cutting in during a discussion of racial justice.