美国民主党总统竞选人第11场辩论15日在华盛顿举行。经历逾20州初选后，辩论首次进入前副总统拜登和联邦参议员桑德斯一对一较量的新阶段。
民主党内的竞争格局在过去三周急剧变化。上一场辩论，尚有7人登场，桑德斯在早期初选州支持率一路领跑。当晚的辩论，则成为两位年逾七旬政坛老将之间的较量，而拜登选情后来居上，领先优势稳固。
资料图：美国民主党总统竞选人、前副总统拜登。
中新社记者 陈孟统 摄
在美国持续扩散的新冠肺炎疫情，成为当晚的核心辩题。前40分钟的话题均围绕疫情防控政策展开，结辩话题也以竞选人的疫情防控措施总结收场。
截至15日晚，美国新冠肺炎确诊病例累计3244例，死亡62例。受疫情影响，当天的辩论改在电视台演播室举行，没有现场观众。按照疫情防控原则，两个辩论台设置相距6英尺远(约1.82米)。拜登与桑德斯在辩论开始前也没有握手。
两人都对特朗普政府疫情应对举措提出批评，并认为应该采取更全面的措施来遏制疫情，防止经济失速。
“我们正处在一场危机当中，在与病毒作战。”拜登指出，应该动用政府的每一种资源来降低疫情造成的短期损害。他明确表态，支持出动军队参与疫情防控，此举可迅速提升美国的防控能力。
而桑德斯则把关注点落在美国民众的医疗需求上。他强调，政府应采取积极措施，满足人们对新冠病毒的检测和治疗需求，而不必担心医疗成本。桑德斯还指出，美国或许不缺资金也不缺医疗技术，但医务人员紧缺。如果确诊病例上升，整个医疗系统将承压。
拜登和桑德斯还表示，美国应加强与世卫组织以及各国合作，共同应对疫情挑战。桑德斯说，“如果有一个时刻全世界必须团结一致，并互相支持，那么就是现在。”
当晚的辩论话题还涉及了移民、气候变化、外交政策等。在谈到保障女性权利时，拜登表示，他将选择一位女性竞选搭档，作为副总统候选人。桑德斯随后也表示，自己可能选一位“进步派”的女性竞选搭档。
根据目前的初选投票情况，拜登和桑德斯两人的支持者分野明显。桑德斯的拉丁裔支持者众多，而拜登则在白人和非洲裔选民中支持率高。在被问及如何弥补各自的竞选劣势时，两人不约而同把火力转向了对方。
桑德斯质疑，前副总统无法赢得年轻人和“草根”群体的支持，而这部分选票是在大选中击败特朗普的关键。拜登则回击说，截至目前的初选结果，已表明人们意识到他才是那个“知道要做什么”的人。
在目前完成初选统计的23个州中，拜登赢下了15个州，选情领先桑德斯。但桑德斯日前已公开表达了“不会退选”的姿态。
两天之后，佛罗里达、伊利诺伊、亚利桑那、俄亥俄4州将举行初选投票，4月还有民主党全国代表大会前的最后一场辩论。没有了现场观众的掌声喝彩，缺少了一呼百应的造势集会，因疫情“冷却”的竞选之路将更加考验竞选人的理念表达和政策细节。(完)
The 11th debate among US Democratic candidates: Biden Sanders on epidemic prevention and control strategy
The 11th debate among US Democratic presidential candidates was held in Washington on the 15th. After more than 20 State primaries, the debate entered a new stage of one-on-one battle between former Vice President Biden and Senator Sanders.
The pattern of competition within the Democratic Party has changed dramatically in the past three weeks. In the last debate, there were seven people left, and Sanders led the way in the early primaries. The debate that night became a contest between two veteran politicians who were over 70 years old, while Biden's election came later with a solid lead.
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Infographic: US Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Biden. Photo by Chen Meng, reporter of China News Agency
The novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic that has continued to spread in the United States has become the core issue of that night. In the first 40 minutes, the topics were all around the epidemic prevention and control policies, and the debate ended with the campaign's epidemic prevention and control measures.
As of 15 novel coronavirus pneumonia, 3244 cases were diagnosed and 62 died. Affected by the epidemic, the debate on that day was held in the studio of the TV station instead, without the on-site audience. According to the principle of epidemic prevention and control, the two debate platforms are 6 feet (about 1.82 meters) apart. Biden and Sanders did not shake hands before the debate.
Both criticized the trump administration's response to the epidemic and said more comprehensive measures should be taken to contain the epidemic and prevent economic stall.
"We are in a crisis, fighting the virus." Biden pointed out that every resource of the government should be used to reduce the short-term damage caused by the epidemic. He made it clear that he supported sending troops to participate in the prevention and control of the epidemic, which could rapidly improve the prevention and control capability of the United States.
Sanders, on the other hand, focuses on the medical needs of the American people. He stressed that the government should take active measures to meet people's needs for detection and treatment of new coronavirus without worrying about medical costs. Sanders also pointed out that the United States may not lack money or medical technology, but the medical staff is in short supply. If confirmed cases rise, the entire medical system will be under pressure.
Biden and Sanders also said that the United States should strengthen cooperation with who and other countries to jointly address the epidemic challenge. "If there's a moment when the world has to come together and support each other, it's now," Sanders said
The debate that night also covered immigration, climate change, foreign policy and so on. When it comes to protecting women's rights, Biden said he would choose a female running mate as a vice presidential candidate. Sanders later said he might choose a "progressive" female running mate.
According to the current primary vote, Biden and Sanders are clearly divided. Sanders has a large Hispanic constituency, while Biden has a high turnout among white and African voters. When asked how to make up for their own electoral weaknesses, the two turned to each other.
Sanders questioned that the former vice president could not win the support of young people and "grassroots" groups, which were the key to beating trump in the general election. Biden replied that the results of the primary so far showed that people realized that he was the one who "knew what to do".
Biden has won 15 of the 23 states that have completed the primary count, ahead of Sanders. But Sanders has recently publicly expressed a "no drop out" stance.
Two days later, Florida, Illinois, Arizona and Ohio will hold primary ballots and the last debate before the Democratic National Convention in April. Without the applause of the audience and the rallies, the campaign road of "cooling down" of the epidemic will further test the concept expression and policy details of the candidates. (end)
