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From CNN 16/3/2020
From CNN 16/3/2020
Biden and Sanders debate in the shadow of coronavirus
Democratic presidential hopefuls former US vice president Joe Biden (L) and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders (R) take part in the 11th Democratic Party 2020 presidential debate in a CNN Washington Bureau studio in Washington, DC on March 15, 2020. The night began under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic and transformed into a fairly standard political battle over the competing policy plans of two men representing opposing sides of a fractious Democratic Party. Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders met for the first one-on-one debate of the 2020 cycle on Sunday. The night began under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic. The two men bumped elbows rather than shaking hands, before taking podiums separated by extra space. But it did not take long for the event to be transformed into a fairly standard political battle over the competing policy plans of two men representing opposing sides of a fractious Democratic Party. Biden and Sanders, united in going after their mutual enemy President Donald Trump, clashed on the typical array of party flash points. Biden challenged Sanders over the price tag of "Medicare for All." Sanders said Biden had advocated for cuts to Social Security. In the night's biggest moment, Biden, who during the last debate held in South Carolina pledged to nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court, committed during Sunday's event that his vice president would be a woman. All in all, at the end of two hours of debate, the state of the race was similar to when the night began. Biden, ahead in delegates, is likely to be named the Democratic nominee to take on Trump unless something dramatic changes about the state of the race. Sanders, ideologically to his left, gave no sign that he intended to give up that prize without a fight. Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders participates in the 11th Democratic Party 2020 presidential debate in a CNN Washington Bureau studio in Washington, DC on March 15, 2020. Both Biden and Sanders cast themselves as better equipped to combat the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc on the United States than Trump. After a day in which Trump downplayed the spreading crisis and said the U.S. has it "under control," the Vermont senator said "the first thing we've got to do is shut this president up" so doctors can do their jobs. "It is unacceptable for him to be blabbering with unfactual information," he said. Biden was asked about Trump saying Friday that "I don't take responsibility at all" for slow coronavirus testing and limited availability. He pointed to unspecified "rules" and "regulations." The former vice president shook his head in disgust when asked about the president's comment. He faulted Trump for turning down the World Health Organization's test and instead insisting the U.S. develop its own. A 2020 Democratic presidential debate could not pass without some disagreement on "Medicare for All." Sanders has called his single-payer health insurance proposal essential to making sure all Americans can afford testing and care during the coronavirus pandemic. Biden pointed to Italy, where coronavirus has severely stressed the medical system, as evidence that government-run insurance would not help. "It has nothing to do with Medicare for All. That does not solve the problem at all," he said. Sanders countered by saying the U.S. does not have a "system that is prepared to provide health care to all people." In making his case against Sanders' plan, Biden highlighted the House-passed legislation that would make coronavirus testing free for all Americans, including those who lack insurance. The senator said the bill has "enormous loopholes." |
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