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Biden and Sanders debate coronavirus and immigration 3:33
(CNN) - Former Vice President Joe Biden brought a white flag to the debate on Sunday night. But Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders preferred what could be a final fight.
The eleventh Democratic presidential debate took place as the United States faces the coronavirus pandemic, with applicants' podiums nearly 2 meters away, a reminder of the global public health emergency.
It was the first one-on-one matchup between the two primary finishers.
Read: Chris Cillizza winners and losers from the Biden-Sanders debate
The count suggests that Sanders' career is nearing its end as the former vice president building a clear lead that is expected to grow Tuesday with the primaries in Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio. But Sunday night showed that the ending is still an open question.
Sanders repeatedly brought up Biden's record on Social Security and bankruptcy law, commerce and more.
But Biden, who seemed to accept that the two wouldn't find much in common, also decided to confront Sanders directly about his record.
He also had an ace up his sleeve. Biden said for the first time that he would choose a vice president, a significant fact that Sanders failed to match.
Here are five conclusions from the debate on Sunday night:
Response to coronavirus: results vs. revolution
Biden and Sanders debate without audience 7:57The vast gulf between Sanders and Biden over politics, as well as how they would approach the presidency, was shown in their responses to the coronavirus pandemic.
Biden sought to offer aptitude and show a detailed understanding of the federal government. He also promoted his own experience, noting the decisions he made during his eight years as vice president.
READ : Coronavirus deaths exceed 6,000 worldwide
"This is like a war, and in a war you do whatever it takes to take care of your people," Biden said, adding that he would use the US military to respond.
Sanders, by comparison, argued that the spread of the coronavirus was something that exacerbated, and even highlighted, the flaws in America's current healthcare and economic system, and offered in itself the general change he feels the country needs.
The Vermont senator also channeled anger over Trump's leadership during this crisis.
"The first thing we have to do, whether he's president or not, is shut up this president now," Sanders said, echoing other Democrats by criticizing Trump for "undermining the doctors and scientists" who are leading the response.
Cruise ship passenger stranded in Chile tells what she lives 3:52The clearest illustration of their large differences came from an exchange on economic inequality and the response to the coronavirus.
Biden pledged to make people “holistic,” but offered a more focused approach to addressing the issue, while Sanders disagreed, saying, “It is not good enough not to understand how we got here and where. we want to go in the future ”.
"People are looking for results," said Biden, "not a revolution."
Biden agrees to elect a woman as his vice president
Biden calmly released the most important news of the night in a response about protecting women's rights: He would choose a woman to be his running mate if she wins the Democratic nomination.
"There are several women qualified to be president tomorrow. I would choose a woman to be my vice president, ”said Biden.
CNN's Dana Bash followed up with Biden, asking point blank if he would choose a woman as his running mate. "Yes," he said.
The announcement has huge implications. Biden is currently the delegated leader in the Democratic primary and the favorite to be the party's candidate. Their commitment could end up coming true.
Biden has always said he wants someone "nice" in politics as his running mate. At times, he also named several women as potential vice presidential nominees. He has pointed to California Senator Kamala Harris, former Georgia Gov. Stacey Abrams, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, and Senators from New Hampshire Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen.
Sanders was less committed to the idea of having a woman as a partner.
"In all likelihood, I will," Sanders said. “For me, it's not just about nominating a woman. He is making sure that we have a progressive woman and that there are progressive women out there. Therefore, my very strong tendency is to move in that direction. "
The nation has only had two vice presidential candidates: Geraldine Ferraro ran as Walter Mondale's nominee in 1984 and Sarah Palin ran as John McCain's nominee in 2008.
"I agree with Bernie"
Former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders participate in the Democratic debate in Washington on Sunday, March 15.
Biden attempted to extend a white flag to Sanders and his supporters on Sunday night, although his rival was not ready to close his ideological divisions.
The former vice president referenced his comments from the past two days of adopting free tuition at public universities for those whose families earn less than $ 125,000 a year and accepting Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren's proposal to undo much of a project. bankruptcy they had fought for 15 years earlier.
"I agree with Bernie," Biden said as they discussed the increasing aid to hospitals facing the coronavirus pandemic.
"I agreed with Bernie," he later said, noting that they both believed that those responsible for the 2008 financial crisis on Wall Street should have gone to jail.
Sanders mostly did not reciprocate, something that brought out Biden in frustration.
“He's making it difficult for me right now. I've been trying to give him credit for things and he's not even going to take credit, "said Biden.
Still, the former vice president sought to minimize his differences with Sanders in an attempt to create an open door for supporters of the Vermont senator to migrate to the Biden campaign if he wins the Democratic nomination. Although Sanders disagreed, Biden said the two have the same priorities in health care, student debt, education and climate change.
"We do not agree with the details of how we do it, we do not agree with the principle. We fundamentally disagree with this president on everything, ”Biden said.
After a debate in which Biden touted the Sanders-backed policies he's adopting, Biden's campaign made it clear that he sees Sanders himself as a nuisance to be ignored.
Biden's senior adviser, Anita Dunn, said, "For two hours [the former vice president] graciously dealt with the type of protester who often appears at campaign events."
Can Biden win? "I have my doubts"
Meanwhile, Sanders directly questioned whether Biden can defeat President Trump in the general election.
Sanders signaled his strong support from young voters and Latinos. He also referenced polls showing that his own proposals on issues like Medicare for All were more popular with Democratic voters than Biden's positions, even when Biden has overwhelmingly won most states.
"I have my doubts about how you win a general election against Trump, who will be a very, very tough opponent, unless you have energy, enthusiasm, the largest turnout in history," Sanders said.
"I have my doubts that Vice President Biden's campaign can generate that energy and enthusiasm and that electoral participation," he added.
Sanders begins a political fight
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders participates in the Democratic debate in Washington on Sunday, March 15.
Sanders arrived on Sunday night ready to confront Biden about the votes he had cast and the comments he had made for decades, and he considered the former vice president too moderate for the modern Democratic Party.
They clashed over climate change, free trade, same-sex marriage and more.
But the most illustrative battle was over Social Security, and Sanders brought to the debate an attack that has been a staple in his campaign propaganda.
"I'm saying that he's been on the floor of the Senate over and over again, promoting the need to cut Social Security, Medicare and veterans programs," the Vermont senator told Biden.
"That's not true," replied Biden.
Sanders told those tuners at his home to visit YouTube, where the first search result for "Joe Biden Social Security" is a video posted by the Sanders campaign in which Biden says to "put everything on the table."
Biden said he was willing to put Social Security changes on the table "to get the kinds of changes we need on other related things."
"But we didn't cut it," said Biden.
"I know," Sanders replied, "because people like me helped stop that."
Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden