Here’s Where Biden And Sanders Stand On Coronavirus, And Other Key Takeaways From The (Closed-Door) Democratic Debate

Topline: The first Joe Biden vs Bernie Sanders showdown took place in an empty studio thanks to coronavirus concerns—but that didn’t stop the Democratic presidential hopefuls from going at each other on everything from healthcare, to picking a woman vice president.

• Both candidates, who are in their seventies, said they were taking measures to reduce potential exposire to coronavirus, including moving public events online and asking staff to work from home. The pair also kicked off the debate not with a handshake, but an elbow bump.
• Healthcare, an issue that has defined the contest for the Democratic ticket and has become even more pressing as the coronavirus pandemic intensifies, was one the pair’s many battle lines, with Biden calling for the federal government to fund treatment and testing, while expanding test sites.
• Sanders made the case for a government-run healthcare system and focussed on the wider implications of coronavirus, calling for the government to protect the wages of workers who lose their jobs amid the pandemic.
• The debate was just one example of the candidates’ fundamental differences more widely—while Biden argued for ‘results, not revolution’ on tackling coronavirus, Sanders is making the case for a complete overhaul and reform of the healthcare system.
• Former VP Biden, the current frontrunner, committed to picking a woman to run alongside him for the November poll. “I commit that I will, in fact, pick a woman to be vice president,” he said.
• The two sparred over Biden’s previous record on Social Security funding, with Sanders accusing Biden of previously wanting to freeze the benefits, claims which Biden denied and which were later found by leading outlets to be misleading. 
• “It’s much bigger than either of us”: Biden pledged to support Sanders if his opponent won the Democratic nomination, although this looks unlikely. Sanders also said he would “be there” for Biden if his rival won.

What to watch for: Primaries in Ohio, Arizona, Florida and Illinois, that are still set to go ahead on Tuesday. Going in, Biden’s leading position in national polls as well as his delegate tally over Sanders, 78, suggest Biden, 77, could be on track to win the demcratic nomination. Meanwhile, a slew of former candidates have in recent days backed Biden, including Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg.

Key background: Sunday’s unique debate was held without an audience and was moved to Washington DC from Phoenix in a bid to abide by the CDC’s social distancing guidelines.

Tangent: On Sunday, the CDC recommended gatherings of more than 50 people in the U.S. be canceled or postponed over the next 8 weeks in the most extreme measure to combat the spread of the pneumonia-like illness yet.