By Dayo Benson Editor Politics,Law/Human Rights New York
Democratic Presidential Nominee front runner, former Vice President Joe Biden, has promised to select a woman as his running mate, if he wins the Democratic nomination, ahead of the November 2020 Presidential election.
The former Vice President stated this Sunday night, during a televised one on one Democratic Presidential Debate, with his major challenger, Senator Bernie Sanders, in Washington D.C.
The debate came ahead of March 17, 2020, second Big Tuesday, expected to hold in four states, namely; Florida, Arizona, Ohio and Illinois.
“I commit that I will in fact pick a woman to be Vice President. There are a number of women who are qualified too be president ”, Biden said.
The debate which was unique in many ways, held even as United States battles the Coronavirus with stringent measures.
The pandemic, which necessitated President Donald Trump,to declare National Emergency last Friday afternoon, dominated the debate.
Last night’s debate was the 12th in the series of Democratic Presidential Debates, which started late last year with a crowded field of over 20 candidates.
While majority of the candidates dropped out as the race progressed due to their inabilities to raise required funds, three of the last seven standing, however suspended their campaigns and endorsed Biden after the Super Tuesday, which shot Biden into comfortable lead. Three among those who had earlier dropped out also endorsed Biden.
In order to stem the spread of the plague, the debate which was originally scheduled to hold in Arizona, was moved to CNN studio in Washington D.C., without the usual cheeringlive audience.
Biden came to the debate with a commanding lead in terms of delegates after the March 10, 2020, Big Tuesday primaries.
As it was in March 3, 2020, Super Tuesday, which Biden won 10 out of the 14 States, the former Vice President, also won four out of the six states in contention Tuesday last week.
Speaking on their individual approach to combat the Coronavirus pandemic, Biden said America “is at war withthe virus”, adding that the issue was beyond Medicare for all. He stated that everybody should be able to access the test free of charge.
He insisted that what America people “want now is result, not revolution.” He pointed out that China should be sanctioned for downplaying the seriousness of the ravaging virus.
As President, he said, at a time like this, he would call out the military (engineering ) to build more hospitals in order to accommodate those who had contacted the virus and ensure that such people would not lose their paychecks.
On immigration, Senator Sanders said undocumented immigrants should not be afraid to come forward for Coronavirus test, which he said his Medicare for all would address. He criticized Immigration and Customs Emergency (ICE) for going after such immigrants at a time like this.
Sanders accused Biden of accepting campaign funds from big corporations that were against revolution.
Biden however defended himself, saying that he had won more delegates despite the fact that Sanders campaign had more money.
Both candidates were unsparing in their criticisms of eachother’s political antecedents, particularly during their years in the Senate.
Biden said he would support and campaign for Sanders if he(Sanders) emerged as the nominee and urged Sanders to commit himself and his supporters to do same. He however lamented that Sander’ attitude was making that difficult for him. Senator Sanders made the commitment, but express optimism that he would win the nomination.
On immigration, Biden said only felons would be deported if “I’m elected President”, adding that the Bill on path to citizenship would be fast tracked. Sanders said “we need a humane border security”, where children would not be separated from their parents. He condemned ICE for terrorizing communities.
Just as in immigration, they both agreed on the need to Institutionalize climate friendly policies that would not destroy the planet but prevent the spread of diseases. They however disagreed on the budgets.
Sanders expressed doubt whether Biden would be able to generate the needed energy and excitement to bring outyoung voters to defeat Trump. The former Vice President however assured that he would live up to expectations, saying that he had been winning big despite his campaign’s paucity of funds.
At the end of the night, and contrary to expectations in some quarters, the debate further polarize the moderate Democrats which Biden represents, and the progressives which Sanders stands for, rather than unite the party. However, they both agreed that the biggest challenge “is todefeat Trump.”
