Biden, Sanders to debate against backdrop of global pandemic

As the two remaining Democratic presidential candidates return to the debate stage, their party, the stakes, and the world look much different than in their last meeting less than three weeks ago.

The fast-moving coronavirus was something of an afterthought in that debate; now the escalating crisis is likely to dominate Sunday's contest.

Rising infections in the United States and around the world have prompted a dramatic slowdown of global travel, upended financial markets, and raised questions about President Donald Trump's ability to lead the nation through a prolonged period of uncertainty.

Just two Democrats former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders remain to make the case that they are best-positioned to challenge Trump in November.

Five other candidates who joined them on stage in the February 25 debate in South Carolina have dropped out, with many rallying behind Biden's surging candidacy.

For both Biden and Sanders, the debate is a moment to display their leadership skills in front of what could be one of the largest audiences of the primary.

They'll aim to draw a contrast with Trump, but also with each other, arguing that they have the right experience, temperament and policy prescriptions to lead the nation through a crisis.

Moments like these don't come around often in campaigns and this is a perfect opportunity to show millions that you have what it takes, said Robert Gibbs, former White House press secretary and campaign adviser to President Barack Obama.

They must show voters they are the answer to what is missing right now by being calm, honest, ready to lead and empathetic.

The coronavirus crisis rapidly upended plans for Sunday's debate. First, the Democratic National Committee announced that it would hold the contest without a live audience.

Then the debate was moved from a large venue in Arizona, one of the states holding a primary Tuesday, to a television studio in Washington because of concerns about cross-country travel. One of the moderators had to withdraw because of potential exposure to a person who tested positive for coronavirus.

It is Biden who will step on stage as the front-runner, a distinction that seemed unlikely just a few weeks ago.

After disappointing showings in the early contests, Biden roared back with a commanding victory in South Carolina and has continued to rack up wins across the country, winning broad and diverse coalitions of voters.

Moderate Democratic leaders, including former rivals Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg, have rallied behind his candidacy and voters have done the same.

Advisers say Biden will aim in Sunday's debate to show voters who backed Sanders or other liberal candidates that they have a home in his campaign. In one overture to liberals, Biden announced his support for a bankruptcy plan championed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who ended her campaign earlier this month and has yet to endorse.

In a virtual town hall on Friday, Biden said his support for Warren's proposal, which aims to simplify the bankruptcy process, is "one of the things that I think Bernie and I will agree on."