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| Biden and Sanders take part in first Democratic debate amid coronavirus crisis – live | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Event held without audience or media spin room and was moved from Phoenix to Washington to reduce travel amid coronavirus | |
| Bernie Sanders criticized Trump’s response to the coronavirus crisis, saying the president needs to defer more to medical experts. | |
| Sanders said the most important step to take immediately was to “shut this president up right now.” | |
| The Vermont senator accused the president of “undermining the doctors and the scientists who are trying to help the American people.” | |
| Sanders then emphasized that the country needs to be ready to provide economic assistance to those who are likely to miss paychecks because of the closure and disruption of businesses amid the pandemic. | |
| The moderators opened the debate by unsurprisingly confirming that much of tonight’s event would focus on the coronacirus crisis. | |
| CNN’s Jake Tapper first turned to Joe Biden to ask what he would say to Americans who are dealing with the closure of businesses and schools as the crisis unfolds. | |
| Biden said of the country’s response to coronavirus, “This is bigger than any one of us.” He called for a “national rallying” to combat the virus and demanded that more tests be immediately made available. | |
| Biden’s answer on combatting coronavirus, which causes respiratory issues, was ironically interrupted a couple times by the former vice president coughing. | |
| The 11th Democratic debate, the first since the coronavirus crisis kicked into high gear in the United States, has now started. | |
| Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders will soon start taking questions, most of them likely on the crisis. | |
| The Democratic debate will begin in just a few minutes, and Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders have now taken the stage. | |
| With CDC guidelines advising against handshakes, the two candidates greeted each other by tapping elbows. | |
| Because of the coronavirus crisis, tonight’s debate will take place without a live audience or a media spin room. | |
| According to CNN’s Jake Tapper, one of the moderators tonight, this will be the first presidential debate between two candidates held in a television studio without a live audience since 1960. | |
| Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders have sought to underscore the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic, as Trump has consistently downplayed the health threat. | |
| Earlier this evening, at a White House press conference, Trump said the government has “tremendous control” over the virus. In contrast, Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said moments later that the worst of the crisis was still yet to come in the US. | |
| In contrast, Joe Biden delivered a speech Thursday afternoon saying Americans need to take serious steps and listen to medical experts to help combat the virus. | |
| “We lead by science,” Biden said. “Downplaying it, being overly dismissive, or spreading misinformation is only going to hurt us and further advantage the spread of the disease.” | |
| Bernie Sanders said in a Friday speech that the crisis demonstrated the need for the Medicare for all healthcare system he has championed, arguing the policy could save lives during the pandemic. | |
| “We cannot live in a nation where if you have the money you get the treatment you need to survive, but if you’re working-class or poor, you get to the end of the line,” Sanders sais. | |
| “In my view, the most cost effective way to reform our dysfunctional and cruel system is to move to a Medicare for all, single-payer healthcare system. ... And I think in the midst of this crisis, more and more Americans understand the truth of that.” | |
| One Democratic presidential candidate will be missing from tonight’s debate stage: Tulsi Gabbard. | |
| The Hawaii congresswoman has remained in the nominating contest, even though she has won only two pledged delegates compared to Joe Biden’s 890 and Bernie Sanders’ 736. | |
| Given her low delegate total, Gabbard failed to qualify for tonight’s debate, which prompted her to accuse the Democratic National Committee of trying to “erase” her candidacy. | |
| However, it’s important to note that Gabbard is currently registered at 3% in national polls, according to the RealClearPolitics average. | |
| Despite his recent series of bruising losses, Bernie Sanders has refused to throw in the towel, saying this week that though he may be “losing the debate over electability”, he is a champion for the views of most younger voters and wants to influence the general election platform. | |
| Nick Carter, Sanders’ political outreach director in 2016, told the New York Times the Vermont senator was “pivoting to ensure that the issues that he has built his political career around continue to be front and center in the political dialogue. | |
| “I also think he has [at the] top of [his] mind ensuring his supporters and those unenthusiastic about a Biden candidacy don’t call it a day.” | |
| Many in the Democratic establishment would prefer the independent from Vermont admit defeat and put his shoulder to the wheel for Biden. | |
| In emails to the Guardian, Martin O’Malley, a former Baltimore mayor, Maryland governor and candidate for the presidential nomination, said he was “guessing, most kindly, that Bernie is thinking as quickly as Biden sprung back to political life, he could as easily stumble and so he has an obligation to hang in there. | |
| “What he risks is that more and more people [see] his messiah veneer fall away and his hypocrisy on many issues – gun safety, immigration reform, Russia interference – will strip away his lovable old uncle persona.” | |
| The next Democratic debate will begin in about thirty minutes, so here is how to watch tonight’s event: | The next Democratic debate will begin in about thirty minutes, so here is how to watch tonight’s event: |
| The debate is being hosted by CNN and Univision and can be watched on CNN, CNN en Español, CNN International and Univision, as well as CNN’s homepage and apps. | The debate is being hosted by CNN and Univision and can be watched on CNN, CNN en Español, CNN International and Univision, as well as CNN’s homepage and apps. |
| CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash and Univision’s Ilia Calderón will moderate the debate. | CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash and Univision’s Ilia Calderón will moderate the debate. |
| The coronavorus pandemic is expected to dominate tonight’s debate, and the health threat is even affecting the layout of the debate stage. | The coronavorus pandemic is expected to dominate tonight’s debate, and the health threat is even affecting the layout of the debate stage. |
| Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders will face each other from podiums placed 6 feet apart, in accordance with CDC guidelines on social distancing as the number of US coronavirus cases rises. | Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders will face each other from podiums placed 6 feet apart, in accordance with CDC guidelines on social distancing as the number of US coronavirus cases rises. |
| Considering his delegate lead and string of recent victories, Joe Biden is already being treated like the presumptive nominee by some Democrats. | Considering his delegate lead and string of recent victories, Joe Biden is already being treated like the presumptive nominee by some Democrats. |
| After the former vice president’s strong performance last Tuesday, several Democratic super PACs declared the nominating contest effectively over and said they would focus on the general election. | After the former vice president’s strong performance last Tuesday, several Democratic super PACs declared the nominating contest effectively over and said they would focus on the general election. |
| Speaking after his disappointing performance in last Tuesday’s primaries, Bernie Sanders said he would continue in the race, but he declined to launch an all-out attack against Biden. | Speaking after his disappointing performance in last Tuesday’s primaries, Bernie Sanders said he would continue in the race, but he declined to launch an all-out attack against Biden. |
| Instead, Sanders said he would use tonight’s debate to press Biden on issues where they differ, such as healthcare, student debt and climate change. | Instead, Sanders said he would use tonight’s debate to press Biden on issues where they differ, such as healthcare, student debt and climate change. |
| “Joe, what are you going to do to end the absurdity of the United States of America being the only major country on earth where health care is not a human right?” Sanders said. | “Joe, what are you going to do to end the absurdity of the United States of America being the only major country on earth where health care is not a human right?” Sanders said. |
| Some commentators said it appeared Sanders was giving Biden the opportunity to more effectively prepare for the debate, indicating tonight may be used more as a test for Biden before facing off against Trump in the general election rather than an ideological battle between the two candidates. | Some commentators said it appeared Sanders was giving Biden the opportunity to more effectively prepare for the debate, indicating tonight may be used more as a test for Biden before facing off against Trump in the general election rather than an ideological battle between the two candidates. |
| Joe Biden has opened up a signficant delegate lead over Bernie Sanders, after the former vice president’s string of recent primary victories. | Joe Biden has opened up a signficant delegate lead over Bernie Sanders, after the former vice president’s string of recent primary victories. |
| According to the Guardian’s delegate count, Biden has won 890 pledged delegates, while Sanders has won 736. As a reminder, a candidate needs to win 1,991 delegates to secure the nomination. | According to the Guardian’s delegate count, Biden has won 890 pledged delegates, while Sanders has won 736. As a reminder, a candidate needs to win 1,991 delegates to secure the nomination. |
| Although the majority of states have not yet voted, Sanders is running out of time to change the direction of the race, considering the momentum Biden has from his wins in recent weeks. | Although the majority of states have not yet voted, Sanders is running out of time to change the direction of the race, considering the momentum Biden has from his wins in recent weeks. |
| Sanders will need a strong performance tonight if he wants to continue his campaign, and he will likely need Biden to turn in a weak showing as well. Otherwise, this race could be coming to a rapid end. | Sanders will need a strong performance tonight if he wants to continue his campaign, and he will likely need Biden to turn in a weak showing as well. Otherwise, this race could be coming to a rapid end. |
| Tonight’s debate comes two days before four more states hold primaries on Tuesday. | Tonight’s debate comes two days before four more states hold primaries on Tuesday. |
| Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Arizona will collectively award 577 pledged delegates on Tuesday. | Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Arizona will collectively award 577 pledged delegates on Tuesday. |
| It could be a disappointing night for Bernie Sanders, who lost all four of the states when he ran against Hillary Clinton in 2016. | It could be a disappointing night for Bernie Sanders, who lost all four of the states when he ran against Hillary Clinton in 2016. |
| Some state polls also indicate Joe Biden has a significant edge heading into Tuesday. According to the RealClearPoliticals polling average of Florida, the most delegate-rich state voting on Tuesday, Biden leads by more than 40 points in the Sunshine State. | Some state polls also indicate Joe Biden has a significant edge heading into Tuesday. According to the RealClearPoliticals polling average of Florida, the most delegate-rich state voting on Tuesday, Biden leads by more than 40 points in the Sunshine State. |
| If Biden were to win in all four states, Sanders will likely face intensified calls for him to drop out of the race. | If Biden were to win in all four states, Sanders will likely face intensified calls for him to drop out of the race. |
| While Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders prepare to answer questions about coronavirus, the Trump administration just gave an update on the government’s response to the pandemic. | While Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders prepare to answer questions about coronavirus, the Trump administration just gave an update on the government’s response to the pandemic. |
| Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the coronavirus task force, said the federal government would release updated guidelines tomorrow on social distancing as the number of US coronavirus cases rises. | Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the coronavirus task force, said the federal government would release updated guidelines tomorrow on social distancing as the number of US coronavirus cases rises. |
| Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, would not rule out a possible nationwide shutdown of bars and restaurants, as some European countries have done. | Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, would not rule out a possible nationwide shutdown of bars and restaurants, as some European countries have done. |
| Some states, including Illinois and Ohio, have already called for all bars and restaurants to close, and Pence said Americans should follow the guidelines set by their local and state officials. | Some states, including Illinois and Ohio, have already called for all bars and restaurants to close, and Pence said Americans should follow the guidelines set by their local and state officials. |
| For more updates on coronavirus, follow the Guardian’s live blog: | For more updates on coronavirus, follow the Guardian’s live blog: |
| Good evening, live blog readers! | Good evening, live blog readers! |
| The country is currently consumed by the response to the coronavirus pandemic, but tonight’s Democratic debate will still go on as scheduled. | The country is currently consumed by the response to the coronavirus pandemic, but tonight’s Democratic debate will still go on as scheduled. |
| Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders will face off in the first one-on-one debate of this election cycle at 8 pm ET in Washington. | Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders will face off in the first one-on-one debate of this election cycle at 8 pm ET in Washington. |
| Even the logistics of the debate have been affected by coronavirus. Tonight’s event will be conducted without a live audience or a media spin room, and it was moved from Phoenix to Washington to reduce cross-country travel. | Even the logistics of the debate have been affected by coronavirus. Tonight’s event will be conducted without a live audience or a media spin room, and it was moved from Phoenix to Washington to reduce cross-country travel. |
| With schools and businesses closing and the number of coronavirus cases rising, it seems virtually certain that much of the debate will focus on how to best combat the pandemic. | With schools and businesses closing and the number of coronavirus cases rising, it seems virtually certain that much of the debate will focus on how to best combat the pandemic. |
| However, tonight’s debate may also be Sanders’ last chance to turn the tide of the race and defeat Biden. The Vermont senator has suffered a string of bruising losses in recent weeks, and he needs a strong performance tonight (as well as a dismal showing from Biden) if he wants any chance at the nomination. | However, tonight’s debate may also be Sanders’ last chance to turn the tide of the race and defeat Biden. The Vermont senator has suffered a string of bruising losses in recent weeks, and he needs a strong performance tonight (as well as a dismal showing from Biden) if he wants any chance at the nomination. |
| The debate will kick off in about an hour and a half, so stay tuned. | The debate will kick off in about an hour and a half, so stay tuned. |