Democratic Primaries

If you're right about what voters want right now with everything going on, and I think you are, then Sunday's debate gives Biden the opportunity to shine. He may be less fluid than Bernie (although Bernie stumbles too sometimes), but what he says usually has more depth and is usually more responsive to the question that's actually being asked. Bernie always pivots into his talking points, which unfortunately might be a good strategy in regular times because a lot of voters don't have the patience for nuance. But right now, I think voters are looking to see that their next president understands the substantive issues and will be able to step up to the plate on this crisis and others like it.

The coronavirus outbreak might lead more people to think Medicare for All is a good idea in the long run (though it could have the opposite effect as well, given the stories about Italian doctors having to decide who lives or dies), but they are also looking for short term solutions to the immediate crisis. If all Bernie does is pivot to Medicare for All instead of discussing what he would do right now if he were president, it will make him look as out of touch as Trump talking about a payroll tax holiday. Biden's hands-on experience dealing with several contagious outbreaks as VP can only help him, and the contrast will be stark unless Bernie changes some things up. So IMO Biden's supporters should welcome this debate.