In the United States, the pre-election campaign of the Democrats is entering a hot phase. In a TV duel with Bernie Sanders that is also memorable because of the circumstances, former Vice President Joe Biden convinced.
- Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders fought an unusual TV debate .
- The coronavirus * was to blame.
- The former Vice President of Barack Obama set important priorities - also on two personnel issues .
Washington - It was a TV debate between two presidential candidates like the United States had never seen in its history. Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders did not greet each other with a handshake, but through elbow contact. The standing desks of the two were placed two meters apart. There was no live reaction, the room in Washington remained empty.
The country's corona virus also cast a shadow over this political duel, in which Sanders (78) had only one goal: to make up ground against the 77-year-old Biden, who, thanks to his brilliant results in the last two rounds of pre-selection, was a clear favorite for the nomination has established. Sanders is currently behind with 150 delegates and is predicted to suffer further losses with the "Primaries" this Tuesday in Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio. These primaries are supposed to take place despite the virus crisis.
US election campaign between Biden and Sanders: Corona crisis determines TV duel
The fight against the corona virus also shaped the first hour of the 120-minute discussion. Biden announced a massive billion-dollar financial program in the event of his election in November - and promised US citizens to compensate them for the loss of income caused by the crisis.
"We are in a new kind of war," was one of Biden's core statements, which was virtually no mere naked in the debate, was quick-witted and, according to observers, looked more like a future president than the controversial Bernie Sanders , who Spent the evening mainly questioning Biden's statements and repeatedly promoting his state "health insurance for all". Biden also claimed that the coronavirus tests and treatment should be free of charge for every citizen and borne by the state.
Pre-election campaign between Biden and Sanders: Former Obama vice president wants female deputy
There was also no contradiction from Sanders when Biden promised to nominate a woman as vice-president in the event of a Democratic victory. “There are a number of women who are qualified enough to be president. That's why I'm going to choose a woman as my deputy. ”Barack Obama's former high-ranking vice president did not give any names. But speculations immediately shot up, ranging from Senator Amy Klobuchar - who, like Biden, is part of the moderate middle of the party - to Hillary Clinton , which in 2016 was unlucky under Donald Trump .
Sanders, in turn, avoided a clear position on the question of the vice presidency and only spoke of a "strong tendency " to nominate a "progressive woman" as a possible Trump challenger. In addition to Senator Elizabeth Warren, the 30-year-old young MP Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York, who is considered one of the "shooting stars" of US politics, would come into question.
Biden committed himself to nominating an African-American to the US Supreme Court for the first time in the event of a victory - a concession to the colored people in the electorate who support him above average and for the sensational comeback of the politician, who has already been killed are responsible.
* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
Friedemann Diederichs