Sanders, Biden camps clash over Arizona debate format

[Uncle Joe]

Bernie Sanders wants to stand up at the next debate — and his campaign is accusing Joe Biden of wanting to sit down.

After a private call Friday with CNN, which is moderating the March 15 debate with the Democratic National Committee, Sanders' team balked at a new proposed format for debate, saying it gives his opponent Biden too much of a break in their first one-on-one face-off. Biden’s camp denied that it was pressing for a sit-down debate.

(snip)

“Why does Joe Biden not want to stand toe-to-toe with Sen. Sanders on the debate stage March 15 and have an opportunity to defend his record and articulate his vision for the future?” asked Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ senior adviser.

(snip)

The Sanders campaign’s accusations unfold just as his supporters and some Republicans have stepped up their criticisms of the 77-year-old Biden’s physical fitness and mental acuity after lapses on the campaign trail and multiple poor debate performances.

(snip)


https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/07/bernie-sanders-joe-biden-arizona-debate-123467

[handmade34]

1. just saying... (and I could go on...)

[Uncle Joe]

3. I believe debates pics and candidate issues

from 2020 are much more pertinent to 2020.

[handmade34]

9. so standing is a 2020's thing?

...the point is over time many debates between 2 people has been either sitting at desk or sitting in chairs... there are numerous reasons a debate would be desirable either way: standing or sitting

I'm sure in Texas Greg Abbott would be concerned if it was mandatory to stand during debate

standing is more formal and possibly an element of informality is desirable by sitting

it really depends of the tone the moderator wants to take and how the candidates wants to come across to the viewers... but silly to imply that one of the candidates is unwell

[Drunken Irishman]

10. This is a silly point.

How are debates with 10+ candidates any way comparable to a debate with just two candidates? There have been sit down debates going back to 2004:



It's common practice to have a sit down debate when there's a much smaller level of candidates. It allows for an informal setting and more engagement than when the candidate's are 20 feet away at a debate lectern.

Sounds like Bernie might be scared of that type of setting.

[Happy Hoosier]

18. WTF are you talking about?

This is nuts. Why the fuck would previous years' debates not matter here? What possible basis is there for that argument.

[Uncle Joe]

19. What about "much more" do you not understand?

[Blue_true]

22. Previous years have always had at least one sitting debate, with just

one moderator. This is a perfect time for such a format, with two people that have a chance to win left in the field.

[Blue_true]

21. When the field gets down to two or three people, one it more

debates will be a sitting debate. Since the DNC has not had a sitting debate and the debate on March 15 could very well be the last practical one, it makes sense that the two candidates sit with one moderator.

[Hav]

2. So they aren't really clashing, it's a pretty one-sided controversy

It's the BS campaign whining about the debate format put forward by the party and CNN and pretending it's coming from the Biden camp. I think it's another cheap trick to further push their smears against Biden, insinuating he cannot stand...despite countless debates to prove the opposite.

[nolabear]

4. Jesus Christ...this childish bullshit has got to stop.

I guess it won’t though. I’m so ashamed of the so called Democrats dragging the party down with this manipulative, adolescent crap flinging.

Fight us on issues. On real health concerns. On anything supportable! But this endless dishonest posturing and innuendo is harming the party they pretend to be part of.

[hlthe2b]

20. +1

[mcar]

5. Team Sanders is trying to make something out of nothing

And continues to push their disgusting "Joe isn't fit" smear. This is not a clash. The media should not bill it so.

[LizBeth]

15. They did it to HRC. I want Sanders medical records. He promised. He broke his promise.

[mcar]

16. They did.

And left the door open for Trump to continue same. Note Trump's messaging too - very similar.

[rockfordfile]

23. I agree he should show

[Hoyt]

6. Glad to see jury did not hide, despite thinking this is Sanders' typical junk.

[Turin_C3PO]

11. People alert on too many posts here.

I only alert when it’s an obvious troll or something bigoted.

[Hoyt]

12. No joke. Disagreeing or disliking are not reasons to Alert.

[Uncle Joe]

13. This is reportable news regarding the candidates' stance

on the debate and this OP was alerted on?

[highplainsdem]

7. So it's a fake controversy created by the Sanders campaign to attack Biden, since

the Biden campaign had nothing to do with the plan to have the candidates seated during the debate.

Shame on the Sanders campaign for this sort of crap.

It's so stupid, and so obvious.

And it's very insulting to voters when the Sanders campaign does something like this.

[Blue_true]

24. They are trying to get the idea that Joe isn't fit into people's

mind. The Sanders campaign has used tactics like this before.

[dware]

8. Jeezus!!!

The Sanders campaign is really, really getting ridiculous.

[LizBeth]

14. Release medical records Sanders. You promised. You are breaking your word.

[HarlanPepper]

17. If Joe had wanted to stand Bernie would have wanted to sit

These little attacks and squabbles are emblematic of a campaign that is failing, like Bernie’s.