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From left to right: Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren during the Democratic Debate on September 12, 2019. REUTERS / Mike Blake

On Thursday, September 12th, during a long-awaited televised debate, the centrist favorite of the Democratic primary Joe Biden pinned his two main progressive rivals, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, as soon as the talks began.

This Thursday, September 12, it is with a strong appeal to the rally to defeat the Republican Donald Trump in 2020 that most candidates for the Democratic nomination have started this televised debate of three hours, the longest to date. However, former 76-year-old Barack Obama vice-president Joe Biden, whose physical form is questioning, opted for the offensive in the opening minutes and appeared realistic in the face of the two more leftist candidates. offer universal medical coverage.

Biden refers to Obama

" My dear friend, the senator on my left, did not say how she will pay and the senator actually told her how he was going to pay for it but it only covers half, " said Joe Biden in the lead. in the polls (26.8% based on the average established by the RealClearPolitics website). " I'm for Barack " Obama, he added in reference to the health reform implemented by his former leader in the White House, the first black president of the United States still very popular in the Democratic electorate.

For their part, Bernie Sanders , 78 (17.3%) and Elizabeth Warren , 70 (16.8%), both fiercely defended their plans. Rising star of the primary, the senator was firmly in the top three over the summer, supported by its many proposals and good performance in the early debates. Distinguished by her bright red jacket among the dark suits of her rivals, she played on her image as a candidate for the program already very rich that promises a " structural change ." " I know what's broken, I know how to fix it and I'm going to fight to do it, " she said.

The gaffes of Biden

Joe Biden remains firmly at the forefront of polls enjoying great sympathy, his image of moderate able to beat Donald Trump and the strong support of blacks. But the summer of 2019 was marked by his gaffes and confused remarks that aroused doubts about his physical and intellectual form. A small candidate, capping at 1% of polls has also attacked on this point. " Have you already forgotten what you said two minutes ago? Julian Castro said, attracting boos to the public.

Joe Biden remained pugnacious at the beginning of this marathon debate but will have to hold the length to prove that he has the stamina necessary for the trying presidential campaign. Only ten candidates for the Democratic nomination for the presidential election of November 2020, out of the 20 still in the running, have taken place on the set for this third debate.

The real kickoff of the political season

Five months before the first votes of the primary, in Iowa, this show marks the real kickoff of the re-entry, and the acceleration of this long campaign. For the small candidates, all far behind, this debate is one of the last opportunities to climb the polls ... and attract the necessary funds to continue the campaign.

After a bounce against Biden in June, Senator Kamala Harris fell back into the polls (6.5%). Complete the list the young mayor of South Bend, Pete Buttigieg (4.8%), the businessman and only non-professional politician onstage Andrew Yang (3%), the ex-elected Texan of the House of Representatives Beto O'Rourke (2.8%), Senator Cory Booker (2.3%), Senator Amy Klobuchar (1.2%) and former Obama's Minister Julian Castro (1%). Opposite, Donald Trump is already campaigning by portraying his opponents as " socialists " threatening the " American dream ". He even invited to Houston deploying a big banner in the sky of the city all the afternoon: "Socialism will kill the economy of Houston. Vote Trump in 2020 ".

( with AFP )

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