No Live Audience At Next Primary Debate Due To Coronavirus Concerns, DNC Announces

Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and former Vice President Joe Biden speak during a break at the Democratic presidential primary debate on February 25, 2020 in Charleston, South Carolina.... Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and former Vice President Joe Biden speak during a break at the Democratic presidential primary debate on February 25, 2020 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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The Democratic National Committee announced on Tuesday night that there will be no live audience at the Democratic presidential primary debate in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday.

Both Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) campaigns had requested the move, according to DNC Communications Director Xochitl Hinojosa.

“The DNC has been in regular communication with local health officials and the Mayor’s office, which advised that we could proceed as planned,” Hinojosa said in a statement. “Nevertheless, our number one priority has and will continue to be the safety of our staff, campaigns, Arizonans and all those involved in the debate.”

CNN, which will host the debate, issued a statement on Tuesday night saying the network would also get rid of the post-debate spin room and press filing center.

“CNN’s top priority is the safety of our employees and community members,” CNN said in a statement. “This extends to guests planning to attend or cover our debate on March 15.”

The debate is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM EST on March 15 and will air on CNN and Univision. CNN hosts Dana Bash and Jake Tapper plus Univision anchor Jorge Ramos will be moderators.

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) called on the DNC to cancel all the upcoming debates in wake of Biden’s sweeping victories on Tuesday, but as of Wednesday morning there is no indication the DNC will do so.

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Notable Replies

  1. All debates should be like that
    Catcalls hooting and Hollerin’ contribute nothing

  2. And no spin rooms, either (as will be the case with this one).

    It’ll be interesting to see how viewers will assess the actual arguments made in the debate without the “hooting and hollerin’” to guide them.

  3. I actually think this might make that debate much better. Being forced to play to the audience is never the same as speaking to the American people all around the country anyway.

    It may turn out to be more like an academic discussion of sorts if CNN can avoid getting some asswipe moderator that wants to turn everything into a sideshow where they intentionally try to provoke one candidate into going after the other, as they’ve generally done in the past. All that does is end up being more on the level of personal attacks, which is what CNN tries to get candidates to do to one another so they can say they put on a good show or something. Generally, that ends up telling us nothing of where they stand on the issues in any depth. I would rather hear about other matters that have gotten little attention in other debates and this would be the best way for that to happen. Like I say, it all depends on what moderator they get to conduct this thing however. Hopefully it won’t be some dipshit that just wants them to duke it out rhetorically.

  4. To a limited extent, they tell us what messages resonate with the unrepresentative segment of the voter base that has the interest and resources to attend a debate. That’s not nothing, but I think it’s clear that a live audience is a net negative.

    That said, I think debates themselves are of very limited value in modern politics. This isn’t 1960; I can trivially learn as much as I want about a candidate’s policy positions and history from the comfort of my living room on my own schedule. I consider myself to be at least one standard deviation more knowledgeable about politics than the median voter, and I haven’t watched a primary or general debate in at least a decade.

  5. Jake Tapper, Dana Bash, and Jorge Ramos.

    Evaluate accordingly.

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