Published 15:12 IST, September 13th 2019
Joe Biden fights off rivals in Democratic debate for 2020 elections
Joe Biden fought rivals Liberal Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders in 2020 Democratic debate in a three-hour showdown in Houston, Texas on September 12.
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In a three-hour showdown in Houston, Texas on September 12, US Democratic Party's front runner Joe Biden gave a tough competition to the Liberals Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Biden went on the offensive in the third Democratic 2020 debate and stressed on the issue of the status of health care in the United States. Though all the 10 democrats agreed on grounds of ousting Trump and focusing on climate change, there were differences between them when it came to health, the state's priority. By pitching the same, the 76-year-old proved to be completely rigorous despite doubts over his age and stamina.
Biden puts forward Affordable Care Act
Over a heated debate, Biden said that his opponents, Sanders and Warren are dreaming of implementing things without planning the funds. Biden, who was earlier the Vice President of the United States from 2009-2017, said that he knows his plans of implementing the Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare. The Affordable Care Act nicknamed Obamacare, is a United States federal statute enacted by the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010. The law's primary goals are to make affordable health insurance available to more people, provide consumers with subsidies (“premium tax credits”) that lower costs for households with incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, expand the Medicaid program to cover all adults with income below 138% of the federal poverty level and support innovative medical care delivery methods designed to lower the costs of health care generally.
Opponents respond to Biden's attacks
Responding to Biden's claim of planning things ahead, both Warren and Sanders put up a spirited defense. Warren said that she too knows what's broken and how to fix it. She added that she is going to lead the fight to get it done, indicating her previously mentioned policy platforms. Adding more to the healthcare reform, Warren said that those at the top meaning those who govern will bear the cost. Similarly, Sanders said that healthcare should be a human right and not a privilege.
All united against Trump
The trio's verbal battle led to a series of other debates by rival Democrats on immigration, trade tariffs, criminal justice reform and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and lower-polling candidates scrambled for breakout moments. Yet all were united on the ground on ousting Trump. Biden in his opening remarks said that the country will have enormous opportunities once Trump is ousted. The current US President too had to say things about his three top opponents.
At the Thursday dinner with Republican lawmakers, Trump called them, "Crazy Bernie," "Pocahontas" and "Sleepy Joe." And said that the country will go to hell if one of them becomes the President.
Where do the Presidential candidates stand?
A low-polling Presidential candidate Julian Castro dared to attack Joe on the grounds of his age by stating that he would forget what he said just two minutes ago. But Biden created no scene out of it and steered clear of all the doubts with his high octane speech. Currently, he has a support of 26.8 percent in the Presidential race as per RealClearPolitics. Sanders, 78, the oldest of them all is on 17.3 percent support, narrowly ahead of the 70-year-old Warren at 16.8. While Biden is the choice of most African-American communities and working-class whites, Warren's stock has also shown a rise. The campaigns of others such as Senator Kamala Harris and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg have stalled.
Read: Former VP Vs Current President: Joe Biden Attacks Donald Trump As Democrats Engage In A Fiery Debate
13:36 IST, September 13th 2019