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Biden and Sanders clash over coronavirus, healthcare and voting records – live Biden and Sanders clash over coronavirus and healthcare in first one-on-one debate – live
(32 minutes later)
Event held without audience or media spin room and was moved from Phoenix to Washington to reduce travel amid outbreak Candidates dig into each other’s voting records at Democratic debate conducted with no audience
Anita Dunn, a senior adviser to Joe Biden, compared Bernie Sanders to the average protester who shows up at Biden’s events in a post-debate call with reporters.
Biden has recently tried to make some overtures to Sanders’ supporters, but comments like Dunn’s are unlikely to help the party unify if Biden wins the nomination.
Joe Biden’s announcement tonight that he was pledging to select a woman as his running mate made a big splash, and that appears to be by design.
After the debate, Biden’s campaign said on a call with reporters that the former vice president decided he wanted to make the announcement on a “big stage.”
“It’s something he thought about a lot recently and he decided he wanted to make a big commitment on a big stage,” Symone Sanders, one of Biden’s senior advisers, told reporters.
Trump has weighed in on tonight’s debate, criticizing the event as “VERY boring” and accusing Joe Biden of lying about the president’s record on entitlement programs.
It’s worth noting that, despite Trump’s repeated pledges to protect Medicare and Social Security, his administration’s annual budget called for cuts to Medicare and Social Security disability programs.
Bernie Sanders expressed openness to the idea of delaying the four primaries scheduled to take place on Tuesday.Bernie Sanders expressed openness to the idea of delaying the four primaries scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
Sanders said he was “not sure it makes a lot of sense” to hold the primaries as scheduled, considering the coronavirus crisis.Sanders said he was “not sure it makes a lot of sense” to hold the primaries as scheduled, considering the coronavirus crisis.
Some states, such as Louisiana and Georgia, have already said they will move their primaries because of the pandemic.Some states, such as Louisiana and Georgia, have already said they will move their primaries because of the pandemic.
Bernie Sanders noted in a post-debate interview that Joe Biden has started adopting some of his positions since becoming the frontrunner in the presidential primary.Bernie Sanders noted in a post-debate interview that Joe Biden has started adopting some of his positions since becoming the frontrunner in the presidential primary.
For example, hours before tonight’s debate, Biden’s team announced he would propose making public universities tuition-free for families making less than $125,000.For example, hours before tonight’s debate, Biden’s team announced he would propose making public universities tuition-free for families making less than $125,000.
“Suddenly today, Joe Biden is a free spending socialist, my god. Hey, we’re going to pay for everything,” Sanders joked to CNN’s Anderson Cooper.“Suddenly today, Joe Biden is a free spending socialist, my god. Hey, we’re going to pay for everything,” Sanders joked to CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
Here’s how some pundits and experts have been responding to tonight’s debate online:Here’s how some pundits and experts have been responding to tonight’s debate online:
Bernie Sanders reiterated his thinking on the coronavirus crisis in a post-debate interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper.Bernie Sanders reiterated his thinking on the coronavirus crisis in a post-debate interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
Sanders said the country needs to help those who are suffering financially because of the crisis, but he added this can be “a time for reflection.”Sanders said the country needs to help those who are suffering financially because of the crisis, but he added this can be “a time for reflection.”
“What happens after this crisis is over? And it will be over,” Sanders said. “What kind of nation do we want to be?”“What happens after this crisis is over? And it will be over,” Sanders said. “What kind of nation do we want to be?”
In addition to the debate, there are more updates on how the US is reacting to the coronavirus crisis.In addition to the debate, there are more updates on how the US is reacting to the coronavirus crisis.
New York mayor Bill de Blasio has announced he will sign an executive order “limiting restaurants, bars and cafes to food take-out and delivery. Nightclubs, movie theatres, small theatre houses, and concert venues must all close.” The order will go into effect on Tuesday.New York mayor Bill de Blasio has announced he will sign an executive order “limiting restaurants, bars and cafes to food take-out and delivery. Nightclubs, movie theatres, small theatre houses, and concert venues must all close.” The order will go into effect on Tuesday.
For all of the latest updates on coronavirus, follow the Guardian’s live blog:For all of the latest updates on coronavirus, follow the Guardian’s live blog:
The president’s reelection campaign has released a statement criticizing Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders while praising Trump’s response to the coronavirus crisis.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.“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.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.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.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: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.
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 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:
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.