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| Biden and Sanders clash over coronavirus, healthcare and voting records – live | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Event held without audience or media spin room and was moved from Phoenix to Washington to reduce travel amid outbreak | Event held without audience or media spin room and was moved from Phoenix to Washington to reduce travel amid outbreak |
| Bernie Sanders was asked about his past flattering comments about the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro. | |
| The comments are newly relevant considering Florida, which has a large Cuban-American community, will hold its primary on Tuesday. | |
| “I have opposed authoritarianism — whether it’s in it’s in Cuba, whether it’s in Saudi Arabia, whether it’s in China or whether it is in Russia,” Sanders said. “That is my life record.” | |
| However, Sanders said the achievements of countries like China, such as decreasing poverty, should be recognized alongside their autocratic ways. | |
| Joe Biden’s promise that he would appoint a female vice president has generally been well-received. However, some have highlighted Democrats who may be disappointed by his announcement, including two former 2020 candidates: | |
| It’s also sparked speculation about who the woman could be, as well as eye-rolling at the diversity on display at tonight’s all male debate: | |
| While the debate takes another commercial break, it’s worth noting Republican senator Lindsey Graham has said he tested negative for coronavirus. | |
| Graham announced he would quarantine himself after having a meeting last week with Australia’s minister of home affairs, Peter Dutton, who subsequently tested positive for coronavirus. | |
| The conversation has turned to climate change, and Bernie Sanders argued the “existential crisis” requires the same level of response as the coronavirus pandemic. | |
| Sanders argued Joe Biden’s proposals do not go far enough to combat climate change. “I know your heart is in the right place, but this requires dramatic, bold action” Sanders told Biden. | |
| Pushing back against Sanders, Biden interestingly agreed to “no new fracking,” which goes much farther than his previous statements and could come back to haunt him during the general election. | |
| Joe Biden said he would freeze deportations if he became president and would eventually only deport felons. | |
| The answer came in response to a question about the Obama administration’s immigration policy, which Biden has been criticized for. | |
| Later asked whether undocumented immigrants arrested by local police should be turned over to immigration officials, Biden said no. | |
| While viewers seem to be enjoying the lack of audience tonight, many are missing one aspect that has been present in all the debates up until now: Elizabeth Warren. | |
| Some have also wished Warren was on stage so she could repeat her blistering performance in Las Vegas last month, where she very quickly dismantled Michael Bloomberg’s campaign. | |
| Bernie Sanders declined to explicitly commit to choosing a woman as his running mate after Joe Biden said he would. | |
| “In all likelihood, I will,” Sanders said when asked about whether he would choose a woman as his running mater. “My very strong tendency is to move in that direction.” | |
| Sanders said it was important to him to choose a progressive running mate, but he acknowledged there are progressive women to choose from. | |
| Joe Biden vowed to choose a woman as his running mate if he won the presidential nomination. | Joe Biden vowed to choose a woman as his running mate if he won the presidential nomination. |
| “There are a number of women who are qualified to be president tomorrow,” Biden said. “I would pick a woman to be my vice president.” | “There are a number of women who are qualified to be president tomorrow,” Biden said. “I would pick a woman to be my vice president.” |
| Biden also reiterated his first nominee to the Supreme Court would be an African-American woman, which would be a first for the country. | Biden also reiterated his first nominee to the Supreme Court would be an African-American woman, which would be a first for the country. |
| The debate has paused for a short commercial break. Here’s where things stand so far: | The debate has paused for a short commercial break. Here’s where things stand so far: |
| Most of the first hour of the debate unsurprisingly focused on the coronavirus crisis, as Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders criticized the Trump administration’s response and emphasized the need to confront the crisis and adhere to medical experts’ guidance. | Most of the first hour of the debate unsurprisingly focused on the coronavirus crisis, as Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders criticized the Trump administration’s response and emphasized the need to confront the crisis and adhere to medical experts’ guidance. |
| The debate has been more contentious than many commentators expected, considering the unfolding crisis. There was a testy exchange where Sanders criticized Biden for his refusal to disavow a super PAC supporting his candidacy and his past comments on potential cuts to social security. | The debate has been more contentious than many commentators expected, considering the unfolding crisis. There was a testy exchange where Sanders criticized Biden for his refusal to disavow a super PAC supporting his candidacy and his past comments on potential cuts to social security. |
| The candidates, both of whom are in the highest-risk age group for coronavirus, said they were taking precautions to limit their potential exposure to the virus. | The candidates, both of whom are in the highest-risk age group for coronavirus, said they were taking precautions to limit their potential exposure to the virus. |
| The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned. | The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned. |
| Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders both pledged to support each other fully if the other person wins the nomination. | Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders both pledged to support each other fully if the other person wins the nomination. |
| “If Bernie is the nominee, I will not only support him, I will campaign for him,” Biden said. “And I believe the people who support me will do the same thing because the existential threat to the United States of America is Donald Trump.” | “If Bernie is the nominee, I will not only support him, I will campaign for him,” Biden said. “And I believe the people who support me will do the same thing because the existential threat to the United States of America is Donald Trump.” |
| Sanders reiterated he would support Biden if he wins the nomination, which seems increasingly likely, but the Vermont senator emphasized the need to still have serious discussions about important issues like climate change. | Sanders reiterated he would support Biden if he wins the nomination, which seems increasingly likely, but the Vermont senator emphasized the need to still have serious discussions about important issues like climate change. |
| Bernie Sanders is 78 years old. Joe Biden is 77 years old. Both of them are also white and male, and both have been engaging in quite the shouting match so far. Sanders has also delighted viewers after telling debate viewers to “go to the YouTube” to research Biden’s record on social security. | Bernie Sanders is 78 years old. Joe Biden is 77 years old. Both of them are also white and male, and both have been engaging in quite the shouting match so far. Sanders has also delighted viewers after telling debate viewers to “go to the YouTube” to research Biden’s record on social security. |
| Here’s how people are responding to the spectacle online: | Here’s how people are responding to the spectacle online: |
| Bernie Sanders has repeatedly returned to Joe Biden’s long voting record to criticize his opponent for his past support for controversial legislation like the 2005 bankruptcy bill. | Bernie Sanders has repeatedly returned to Joe Biden’s long voting record to criticize his opponent for his past support for controversial legislation like the 2005 bankruptcy bill. |
| Biden has responded by trying to pivot from looking at his voting record to focusing on the issues facing the country now. | Biden has responded by trying to pivot from looking at his voting record to focusing on the issues facing the country now. |
| “The question is: what do we do from this point on?” Biden said. | “The question is: what do we do from this point on?” Biden said. |
| As the candidates clash over each other’s records, here’s the Guardian’s chief reporter Ed Pilkington on how Joe Biden backed a 2005 bill that stripped students of bankruptcy protections: | As the candidates clash over each other’s records, here’s the Guardian’s chief reporter Ed Pilkington on how Joe Biden backed a 2005 bill that stripped students of bankruptcy protections: |
| Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders just engaged in a testy exchange over super PACs and potential cuts to social security. | Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders just engaged in a testy exchange over super PACs and potential cuts to social security. |
| Biden defended the strength of his campaign by pointing to his recent string of primary victories despite Sanders’ dominant fundraisinfg. | Biden defended the strength of his campaign by pointing to his recent string of primary victories despite Sanders’ dominant fundraisinfg. |
| Sanders responded by calling on Biden to disavow the super PAC supporting his candidacy, which the former vice president sidestepped. | Sanders responded by calling on Biden to disavow the super PAC supporting his candidacy, which the former vice president sidestepped. |
| Sanders then turned to criticizing Biden’s past comments suggesting he was open to cuts to entitlement programs. | Sanders then turned to criticizing Biden’s past comments suggesting he was open to cuts to entitlement programs. |
| Biden responded by accusing Sanders of releasing an attack ad on social security that inaccurately depicted his view on the issue. | Biden responded by accusing Sanders of releasing an attack ad on social security that inaccurately depicted his view on the issue. |
| Overall, the debate has been more contentious than many commentators predicted, considering the intensifying coronavirus crisis. | Overall, the debate has been more contentious than many commentators predicted, considering the intensifying coronavirus crisis. |
| While answering the question about how he is limiting his potential exposure to coronavirus, Joe Biden tried to contrast his health to Bernie Sanders’. | While answering the question about how he is limiting his potential exposure to coronavirus, Joe Biden tried to contrast his health to Bernie Sanders’. |
| “Well fortunately I don’t have any of the underlying conditions you talked about,” Biden said to CNN’s Dana Bash. | “Well fortunately I don’t have any of the underlying conditions you talked about,” Biden said to CNN’s Dana Bash. |
| The line was a clear reference to Sanders’ heart attack in October, although it’s worth noting both candidates are in their late 70’s, putting them both in the highest-risk age group for coronavirus. | The line was a clear reference to Sanders’ heart attack in October, although it’s worth noting both candidates are in their late 70’s, putting them both in the highest-risk age group for coronavirus. |
| CNN’s Dana Bash asked the two candidates, both of whom are in their late 70’s and thus in the highest-risk age group for coronavirus, how they are limiting their potential exposure to the virus. | CNN’s Dana Bash asked the two candidates, both of whom are in their late 70’s and thus in the highest-risk age group for coronavirus, how they are limiting their potential exposure to the virus. |
| Bash pointed out that Bernie Sanders also had a heart attack in October, which leaves him even more vulnerable if he were to contract the virus. | Bash pointed out that Bernie Sanders also had a heart attack in October, which leaves him even more vulnerable if he were to contract the virus. |
| However, Sanders said his campaign has done a sufficient job trying to limit person-to-person contact, hosting virtual events and adhering to CDC guidelines. | However, Sanders said his campaign has done a sufficient job trying to limit person-to-person contact, hosting virtual events and adhering to CDC guidelines. |
| Joe Biden similarly said he has been very careful about hand-washing and using hand sanitizer, while also making most of his campaign events virtual events. | Joe Biden similarly said he has been very careful about hand-washing and using hand sanitizer, while also making most of his campaign events virtual events. |
| An emerging theme tonight has been the candidates mixing up coronavirus with other deadly diseases. | An emerging theme tonight has been the candidates mixing up coronavirus with other deadly diseases. |
| First of all Biden referred to coronavirus when he meant to say swine flu, then mispronounced H1N1 (which swine flu is also called). | First of all Biden referred to coronavirus when he meant to say swine flu, then mispronounced H1N1 (which swine flu is also called). |
| It hasn’t gone unnoticed by Donald Trump Jr: | It hasn’t gone unnoticed by Donald Trump Jr: |
| But Biden’s not the only one. Sanders later made a similar blunder, saying ebola instead of coronavirus, before blaming Biden for the error: | But Biden’s not the only one. Sanders later made a similar blunder, saying ebola instead of coronavirus, before blaming Biden for the error: |