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Biden and Sanders clash over coronavirus, healthcare and voting records – live 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 outbreakEvent held without audience or media spin room and was moved from Phoenix to Washington to reduce travel amid outbreak
The president’s reelection campaign has released a statement criticizing Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders while praising Trump’s response to the coronavirus crisis.
“Unable to articulate a coronavirus plan, both Bernie and Biden offered little more than plagiarizing President Trump’s response, which will now be the model for all future pandemics,” said Kayleigh McEnany, the press secretary of Trump’s campaign.
Both Biden and Sanders criticized Trump’s response to the crisis, accusing the president of dangerously downplaying the health threat and undermining health experts.
Earlier this evening, Trump spoke at a White House press conference and claimed the government has “tremendous control” on the situation, a statement that was contradicted moments later by Dr Anthony Fauci, who said the worst was yet to come in the US.
Some of Joe Biden’s critics accused him of misrepresenting his record after distancing himself from his past stances and claiming he opposes fracking, which is not reflected in his campaign platform.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of Bernie Sanders’ top surrogates, criticized Biden in a tweet:
The final question of the debate returned to coronavirus, with both candidates being asked for their closing message on the crisis. The two candidates’ answers served as a decent synopsis of tonight’s debate.
Bernie Sanders said the crisis required the country to consider how we reached this point and “where the power is in America.” He called on leaders to “rethink America and create a country where we care for each other.”
Joe Biden, on the other hand, described the crisis as an “all hands on deck” situation that required the country to take extraordinary measures. However, he did not call for a broad reevaluation of the systems making up American society, as Sanders did.
With that, the 11th Democratic debate came to a close.
Just before the debate went to a commercial break, Bernie Sanders said he had concerns that Joe Biden could inspire the excitement needed to win a general election.
Biden responded by pointing out he has won some of the states that have seen the highest spike in voter turnout.
For example, in Virginia, where the number of Democratic primary voters nearly doubled from 2016, Biden won by 30 points.
CNN’s Dana Bash asked Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders about vulnerabilities in their bases of support.
Biden was asked about him losing Latinx voters to Sanders in a number of states, while Sanders was asked about his struggles to appeal to African-American voters.
Both Biden and Sanders dodged the question, pointing to other voting groups they are popular with to justify their weaknesses elsewhere.
Bernie Sanders was asked about his past flattering comments about the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro.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.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.”“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.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: Joe Biden’s promise that he would appoint a female vice president has generally been well-received. However, some have highlighted the 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: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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.”“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.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.
“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.
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.
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 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.
“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.
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:
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.
“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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
But Biden’s not the only one. Sanders later made a similar blunder, saying ebola instead of coronavirus, before blaming Biden for the error: