Joe Biden & Bernie Sanders Debate Coronavirus Response Amid Crisis

Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) and former Vice President Joe Biden took to the debate stage Sunday night without an audience ahead of Arizona’s primaries. 

As the nation stays on edge, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages Americans to not gather in groups of 50 or more for the next two months. The debate, held in a CNN studio in Washington, D.C., was originally scheduled to happen in Phoenix, Arizona. Arizona, along with Florida, Ohio and Illinois, are set to have their primaries on Tuesday. 

The  coronavirus was the main topic at the debate as both candidates tried to set themselves apart from President Donald Trump in ways of combating the spread of the virus. Biden suggested deploying the military to combat the virus, while Sanders committed to his “Medicare for All” plan as a possible solution. Recent polls have shown that voters trust Biden more than Sanders to handle a major crisis. 

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In addition to the coronavirus, another topic covered was Biden’s pick for Vice President, who he promised would be a woman. “There are a number of women who are qualified to be president tomorrow,” Biden said. “I would pick a woman to be my vice president.”

When CNN Moderator Dana Bash asked for confirmation, Biden confirmed he would choose a female running mate. Sanders soon followed saying he, too, would “in all likelihood” be choosing a progressive woman as his pick for Vice President.

Biden, with over 150 delegates ahead of Sanders, dominated the debate. Sanders suggested Biden was being funded by the healthcare industry. Biden brushed it off saying,”I’m not going to get into the back-and-forth about our politics.”