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| Biden and Sanders clash over coronavirus and healthcare in first one-on-one debate – live | Biden and Sanders clash over coronavirus and healthcare in first one-on-one debate – live |
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| Candidates dig into each other’s voting records at Democratic debate conducted with no audience | Candidates dig into each other’s voting records at Democratic debate conducted with no audience |
| That’s it from me tonight after the 11th Democratic debate. Here are some of the night’s key takeaways: | |
| Coronavirus dominated the debate, with Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders offering different visions for how to combat the crisis. After the pair bumped elbows to greet each other, Biden described the coronavirus crisis as an “all hands on deck” situation that required immediate steps to protect vulnerable communities, while Sanders said the pandemic underscored the need for an overhaul of the US healthcare system to protect all Americans. The contrast reflected one of the key questions in the primary race: should the country focus on immediate, short-term results or broad, structural change? | |
| Biden pledged to choose a woman as his running mate. Sanders would not explicitly commit to selecting a woman running mate but said, “In all likelihood, I will.” Biden’s pledge could help to reassure Democrats who are disappointed that the party’s historically diverse field has narrowed down to two white men in their late 70’s. | |
| Biden avoided a complete debacle, which Sanders needed to change the direction of the race. Biden did stumble at times, but considering his significant delegate lead, Sanders needed his opponent to have a terrible night if he wanted any chance at turning the tide of the race. Biden managed to avoid that catastrophe. | |
| The debate was surprisingly combative considering the current crisis. Many commentators had predicted the night would be relatively tame as the candidates focused on the health crisis gripping the country. However, Sanders went after Biden for his refusal to disavow super PACs and his past comments on Social Security, and Biden returned the favor by criticizing Sanders for his record on gun control and his recent praise of Fidel Castro. | |
| Tonight made the case for holding debates without live audiences. The debate was conducted without a live audience or a media spinroom because of coronavirus, and a number of commentators said it was a welcome change from past debates. It’s possible the practice could be replicated with general election debates. | |
| Thanks for following our live debate coverage tonight, and our US politics live blog will return tomorrow morning. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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.” | 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. | “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. | 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. | 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: |