CBS has shifted the focus of tonight's Democratic Debate in Des Moines, Iowa to put issues of terrorism, national security, and foreign relations front and center following Friday night's terrorist attacks in Paris, the NYT reports:
Steve Capus, the executive editor of CBS News and the executive producer of “CBS Evening News,” said in an interview late Friday that he was in the middle of a rehearsal for the debate when news broke about the slaughter in Paris. The CBS News team immediately shifted gears and reformulated questions to make them more directly related to the attacks. Mr. Capus said it was important for the debate to go on because the world looks to the American president for leadership during international crises.
“American leadership is put to the test,” Mr. Capus said. “The entire world is looking to the White House. These people are vying to take over this office.”
The candidates responded to the attacks on Friday night via Twitter:
The reports from Paris are harrowing. Praying for the city and families of the victims. -H
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) November 13, 2015
Horrified by the attacks in Paris tonight. My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) November 13, 2015
Heartbreaking news from Paris. Praying for the country and its people. -O'M
— Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) November 13, 2015
Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O'Malley will take the stage at 9pm to 11pm ET on CBS.
The AP says to prepare for tougher attacks from both Sanders and O'Malley as they still trail Clinton by sizable numbers.
Recent polls show: 52 percent of Democratic primary voters support Clinton, followed by Sanders with 33 percent, and O'Malley at 5 percent.”
Where to watch/listen, via CBS News:
- On TV: CBS television affiliates or on CBSN streaming on Apple TV,Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Xbox One
- Mobile: CBSN streaming on the CBS News apps CBS News for Androidand CBS News for iOS
- Online: CBSNews.com (livestream will include real-time Twitter trends, instant reactions, curated Tweets and other key information)
- On radio: CBS Radio News affiliates
CBS News is hosting the debate in conjunction with CBS' Des Moines affiliate, KCCI, and the Des Moines Register. “Face the Nation” anchor John Dickerson will be the principal moderator, and he will be joined by CBS News Congressional Correspondent Nancy Cordes, KCCI anchor Kevin Cooney and the Des Moines Register's political columnist, Kathie Obradovich.
