The most unique presidential debate in recent memory took place Sunday night, when former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders debated each other in a Washington, D.C., studio with no audience.
The debate, hosted by and broadcast on CNN, is believed to be the first one-on-one presidential debate to be held in a studio, with no audience, since 1960. John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon were the Democratic and Republican nominees, respectively, and were facing each other in the general election.
Biden and Sanders are Democrats battling for their party’s nomination to face President Donald Trump this November.
The debate was being held in the middle of the global coronavirus pandemic. Both CNN and the Democratic National Committee agreed the debate should be hosted without a studio audience.
»MORE: Coronavirus fears cause DNC, CNN to prohibit audience, press room at next debate
Biden and Sanders skipped a handshake, greeting each other instead with an elbow bump, then took their positions at podiums spaced 6 feet apart in keeping with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for limiting the virus’ spread.
Bernie Sanders & Joe Biden take the stage for what may be the 1st presidential debate amid a global pandemic. They greeted each other with a friendly elbow bump, instead of a handshake, and appear to be standing several feet apart.pic.twitter.com/38hNMd7DzV
— Shira Tarlo (@shiratarlo) March 16, 2020
That has to be the first elbow bump in presidential debate history, right?
— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) March 15, 2020
Bernie and Biden share an elbow bump ahead of the debate
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) March 15, 2020
The next viral social media moment came less than a minute into the debate, when Biden began his comments with a cough.
opened the debate, the first thing biden did was start coughing
— Hbomb (@Hbomberguy) March 16, 2020
closed the debate
Is anyone in the media or the CNN debate moderators going to ask Biden if he has been tested for the coronavirus?
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) March 16, 2020
He has repeatedly coughed tonight
The media hounded Trump for days until he got tested and released the results
Fair is fair, right? https://t.co/wFnoQeeLDu
Biden coughed and touched his mouth in literally first 5 seconds of the debate.
— Dave Rubin (@RubinReport) March 16, 2020
Joe Biden opened the debate by coughing before boasting of the U.S. response to "coronavirus—I mean, uh, the 'N1H1.'" #demdebate
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) March 16, 2020
Both Biden and Sanders called for increased testing in the U.S. for the rapidly spreading coronavirus and economic relief for Americans suffering as a result of the global pandemic.
“This is bigger than any one of us. This calls for a national rallying for one another," the former vice president said.
Did Joe Biden really say he's taking every precaution in terms of hygiene but in the first 30 seconds of the debate do this... #BidensCognitiveDecline #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/MvstStJn2l
— The Mile Highoneers Podcast (@TheHighoneers) March 16, 2020
Sanders panned Trump's handling of the crisis, urging the president to stop hindering medical professionals by “blabbering with unfactual information that is confusing the American public."
Why in god's name are we having a debate and voting Tuesday in the middle of a pandemic? Does this not seem crazy to people?
— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) March 15, 2020
Sanders said if he were president he would make sure no one has to pay for coronavirus testing or treatment. Biden later said he also believes no one should have to pay.
Two bros
— Connor (@connordpeters) March 16, 2020
chillin' on a debate stage
6 feet apart
cause they're both old#coronavirus #DemocraticDebate pic.twitter.com/T1eByOF5KQ
The coronavirus pandemic dominated the start of the debate, reflecting how quickly it has also overtaken almost every aspect of American life. Schools are shut down across the country, travel has been significantly limited and the likely economic consequences have sent financial markets plummeting.
Biden and Sanders both called for increased testing for the virus and economic relief for Americans who will suffer.
The fact the debate was held without a studio audience received mostly positive reviews.
Dear Networks: No more audiences for debates. This is working fine!
— John Weaver (@jwgop) March 16, 2020
When coronavirus is over we should continue having these debates with no audience and no clapping. It’s very civilized. Thank you.
— Aminatou Sow (@aminatou) March 16, 2020
Big differences in this debate vs past ones:
— Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) March 16, 2020
1. Civil, deeper debate
2. About what is the problem: an unfair system (Bernie) or bad leadership and specific ideas (Biden)?
3. No one is raising their hand to get time.
This debate without an audience is ten times better and more informative than any debate I have ever seen.
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) March 16, 2020
Biden and Sanders face each other Tuesday in four presidential primaries, including the important Florida race as well as Illinois, Ohio and Arizona.
On March 17, 577 delegates are at stake in Florida (219); Illinois (155); Ohio (136); and Arizona (67).
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