Presidential 2020 in the United States: the centrist favorite Biden on the offensive in a lively Democratic debate

World

Waiting on his pugnacity, the favorite of the Democratic primary Joe Biden opted for the offensive Thursday during a televised debate, attacking his main rivals, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, without being destabilized by the smallest candidates. After a summer marked by mistakes and confused remarks that awoke doubts about his physical and intellectual form, 76-year-old Joe Biden was incisive in this three-hour marathon debate, fiercely defending his centrist positions against both candidates. more to the left.

"We are the United States of America, never when we decided to do something, were we unable to do it," he said, as if to prove his determination. The former Vice President of Barack Obama has also repeatedly claimed his ties with the first black president of the United States still very popular in the Democratic electorate.

Despite his missteps, Joe Biden remains firmly in the lead polls (26.8% according to the average established by the site RealClearPolitics), enjoying great sympathy, his image of moderate able to beat Donald Trump in 2020 and the strong support of blacks.

Just behind him in the polls, Bernie Sanders, 78 (17.3%) and Elizabeth Warren, 70 (16.8%), maintained a united front during these exchanges, in Houston (Texas).

In a noteworthy moment, a small candidate, capping at 1% of polls, attacked Biden: "Have you ever forgotten what you said two minutes ago?", Said Julian Castro, former Minister of Barack Obama, attracting boos to the public. Biden ignored the spades.

Rising star of the primary, Elizabeth Warren avoided attacking his rivals. Distinguished by her bright red jacket among the dark costumes, she played on her image as a candidate already very rich program. "I know what's broken, I know how to fix it and I'm going to fight for it," she said, declining her promises to the very left.

After several deadly shootings this summer including two in Texas, gun issues have given some of the highlights, former House of Representatives Beto O'Rourke, a native of that state, argued for confiscation of assault rifles, in a country where the question of the right to bear arms is deeply divisive.

Behind the often lively exchanges on health or international trade, only one subject was unanimously among the ten candidates for the Democratic nomination on the set of this debate: the imperative to beat Donald Trump.