US Presidential Elections: Biden Starts 2nd Round of Debates, Slams Trump’s Putting US in ’Horrible Situation’

By Staff, Agencies

Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden attacked US President Donald Trump Thursday for putting Americans in a "horrible situation," as the former faced off against his main presidential rivals who braced for a fiery debate over their competing visions for the nation.

"Donald Trump has put us in a horrible situation," Biden said in the televised debate alongside nine other Democrats seeking the party's nomination for the 2020 presidential election.

"Donald Trump thinks Wall Street built America. Ordinary, middle-class Americans built America."

With so many potential challengers to Trump, the party needed to split the top 20 candidates into debates on two nights in southern Florida, which is expected to be a key swing state in the next year's election.

The biggest American political debate since the 2016 presidential campaign comes to an end Thursday with Biden's square off against nine challengers, including number two candidate Bernie Sanders, Senator Kamala Harris and Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

Wednesday's two-hour prime-time showdown saw Democrats like former congressman Beto O'Rourke and Senator Cory Booker, former San Antonio mayor Julian Castro and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio on subjects as varied as health care, economic inequality, climate action, gun violence, Iran and immigration.

Biden and other candidates quickly turned against Trump on taxes, health care and income inequality, while early debate also addressed whether the party grounded in capitalism should embrace a shift towards more liberal politics and government involvement in the economy.