Democratic debate: Latest news and analysis after Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden battle in first one-on-one showdown
Pandemic frames a conversation-style debate in unprecedented election cycle
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After a stunning series of wins, Joe Biden has seized the mantle of frontrunner in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary race. Though Bernie Sanders' path to the nomination has narrowed, he persists on his campaign to upset the status quo.
As the coronavirus pandemic grips the US, the candidates met n their first one-on-one Democratic debate of this election cycle.
Without an audience, the former vice-president faced off against the Vermont senator after Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar all dropped out following Super Tuesday.
Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard remains in the race but did not qualify for the latest debate.
The debate gave the senator his biggest and best chance yet to frame his signature progressive policies to a national audience against the backdrop of the coronavirus crisis and its revelation of the kinds of national failures that his platform aims to address on a systemic and fundamental level.
Mr Biden, on the other hand, used the moment to highlight his front-runner status. As the clear delegate leader in the field, and without a stage of contenders competing for the spotlight, the former vice president was more focused and in-control than in previous debates.
"This is bigger than any one of us", he said.
He underlined their ideological differences, saying voters are "looking for results" and "not a revolution" — what would be a drawn-out political fight — while Mr Sanders stressed the "dysfunction" in government that has led to the inequities Americans are faced with in the midst of the crisis.
Democratic primaries: Who won where?
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Both men supported picking a woman vice president, and both men rallied around defeating the incumbent in November by committing to campaign for the nominee.
Though Mr Biden's past — potential cuts to Social Security, wavering on abortion rights, supporting the Wall Street bailout, super PAC support — came back to haunt him, the debate fell away from substantive policy decisions and came back to the coronavirus threat, and whether the candidates are prepared to meet it.
The debate was originally scheduled to take place in Phoenix, Arizona but has been moved to Washington DC, days before another round of crucial primaries scheduled for 17 March: Florida (with 219 delegates), Illinois (155), Ohio (136) and Arizona (67).
There is one more Democratic debate in the primary calendar which will take place in April, as long as both Mr Biden and Mr Sanders are still in the race. A date and location for that debate have not yet been finalised.
Follow live coverage as it happened
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the latest Democratic debate.
Who are the moderators?
Jake Tapper, Dana Bash and Ilia Calderon will be the moderators for tonight's debate. Calderon has stepped up after Univision anchor Jorge Ramos decided to step down after making contact with someone who had tested positive for Covid-19.
The debate will begin at 8pm ET, airing on CNN, CNN En Espanol, CNN International, the CNN website and Univision.
When are the next primaries?
Another round of crucial primaries are round the corner, with the field now narrowed down to just three candidates. Tuesday 17 March will see Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Arizona vote on who they want to be the Democratic nominee. The number of delegates up for grabs are as follows:
Florida - 219
Illinois -155
Ohio - 136
Arizona - 67
But what about coronavirus?
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, tonight's debate will be going ahead. There will, however, be no live audience in attendance, and the Democratic National Committee moved the location from Phoenix to CNN's studio in Washington DC.
Debate is 'social distancing' compliant
The podiums for tonight's debate will be six feet apart, as per coronavirus health guidelines:
What to look for: Coronavirus becomes central campaign issue
Joe Biden offered Donald Trump his campaign's own coronavirus response plan.
Bernie Sanders held two briefings to call for a substantial public health response.
As the candidates prepare to take the debate stage, their role in combatting the outbreak has emerged as a central part of their platforms as the crisis grips Americans turning to government for an answer to the looming, if not viscerally present, threat.
Their responses offered a sharp contrast to Donald Trump, whose contradictory statements about Covid-19 has conflicted officials in his own administration.
For Sanders, coronavirus underlines the failures of the current healthcare and economic systems. For Biden, his call for "compassion" offers him a chance to set himself against Trump.
The public health emergency offers the candidates a singular issue by which to evaluate the efficacy of their platforms.
Joe Biden adopts college and bankruptcy protection plans — created by Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren
In a move to court progressives, Joe Biden is picking up a measure he's attributing to Bernie Sanders — though the Vermont senator introduced this version in 2017 and has since adopted free tuition regardless of income, mandating education as a right.
Handshakes — will they? won't they?
Neither. They opted for the elbow bump.
First question, on coronavirus, which will loom throughout the debate: What do you say to the American people confronting this new reality?
Joe Biden: "This is bigger than any one of us."
He outlines the remarks he gave earlier this week in response to Trump's national address.
If you were president, right now, what 's the most important thing you'd do to confront the virus?
Bernie Sanders said first, he would "shut up this president right now" as he undermines his own officials with his "blabbering" that's "confusing the public."
First, he says he would ensure that Americans aren't paying for their care: "Do not worry about the cost right now because we're in the middle of a national emergency." He says he would equip hospitals with equipment and personnel and ensure sick wages are paid.
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