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A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 16 March 2020
Biden, Sanders to debate against backdrop of global pandemic

By JULIE PACE a global pandemic has
WASHINGTON (AP) — For- been a moment to bolster
mer Vice President Joe the central argument of his
Biden and Sen. Bernie candidacy: that his eight
Sanders are set to face years as vice president
off Sunday night in the first give him the experience,
one-on-one debate of the as well as the relationships
Democratic primary, a in Washington and around
contest that comes as the the world, that are needed
nation and much of the in the Oval Office during
world struggle to contain turbulent times.
a global pandemic amid Advisers say Biden will also
mounting economic un- aim in Sunday's debate to
certainty. show voters who backed
Much has changed in Sanders or other liberal
the United States, and in candidates that they have
the campaign, since the a home in his campaign.
Democrats' last debate less In one overture to liber-
than three weeks ago. als, Biden announced his
It is Biden who will step on support for a bankruptcy
stage as the front-runner, plan championed by Mas-
a distinction that seemed sachusetts Sen. Elizabeth
unlikely when Sanders was Warren, who ended her
winning early contests. But In this Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 file photo, Democratic presidential candidates, Sen. Bernie Sand- 2020 campaign earlier this
more moderate Democrats ers, I-Vt., left, and former Vice President Joe Biden, talk before a Democratic presidential primary month and has yet to en-
have rapidly consolidated debate in Charleston, S.C. dorse anyone.
around Biden, buoyed by Associated Press In a virtual town hall on
his strong standing with Friday, Biden said his sup-
black voters and motivated leading them to cancel to display their leadership and policy prescriptions to port for Warren's proposal,
by a desire to block Sand- campaign rallies even as skills in front of what could lead the nation through a which aims to simplify the
ers, a self-described demo- big states prepare to vote be one of the largest audi- crisis. bankruptcy process, is "one
cratic socialist who many on Tuesday. That's also fro- ences of the primary. They'll "Moments like these don't of the things that I think Ber-
in the party believe would zen the trajectory of the pri- aim to draw a contrast with come around often in nie and I will agree on."
lose to President Donald mary contest, limiting Sand- Trump's uneven handling of campaigns, and this is a And just hours before the
Trump in November. ers' opportunities to regain the coronavirus pandemic. perfect opportunity to debate, Biden announced
The fast-moving coronavi- momentum. And the Democrats will ar- show millions that you have he was adopting Sand-
rus has largely grounded For both Biden and Sand- gue over who has the right what it takes," said Robert ers' plan to make public
the candidates for days, ers, the debate is a moment experience, temperament Gibbs, former White House colleges and universities
press secretary and cam- tuition-free for students
paign adviser to President whose family incomes are
Barack Obama. "They must below $125,000.
show voters they are the After rebounding in stun-
answer to what is missing ning fashion from his slug-
right now by being calm, gish start in the primary,
honest, ready to lead and Biden now holds a solid
empathetic." lead over Sanders in the all-
The coronavirus crisis rap- important delegate race,
idly upended plans for and a strong showing in
Sunday's debate. First, the Tuesday's primary contests
Democratic National Com- could effectively guaran-
mittee announced that tee his nomination. Four big
it would hold the contest states will be up for grabs:
without a live audience. Illinois, Ohio, Arizona and
Then the debate was Florida, a perennial gen-
moved from a large venue eral election battleground
in Arizona, one of the states where Biden appears to
holding a primary Tues- have an edge over Sand-
day, to a television studio ers.
in Washington because Sanders and his supporters
of concerns about cross- were caught off guard by
country travel. how quickly the race has
CNN, the network hosting moved away from them.
the debate, said it was po- The Vermont senator still
sitioning the podiums for retains a loyal following
Biden and Sanders to be 6 among young voters and
feet apart in keeping with liberals, but he's failed to
guidance from the Cen- expand his appeal, partic-
ters for Disease Control and ularly among black voters.
Prevention for limiting the His calls for a sweeping po-
spread of the novel coro- litical and economic revo-
navirus. lution have also fallen flat
For Biden, the outbreak of with suburban voters. q