Democratic Debate Preview

BRADENTON – Tonight's Democratic Debate will feature former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb and former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee. It will be aired live from the Wynn Resort and Casino in Las Vegas by CNN and is set to begin at 9:00 p.m. with pre-debate coverage starting at 8:30.

CNN’s debate rules allow Joe Biden to enter the debate right up until today, even though the Vice President has not yet announced whether he will run. Biden has already been included in enough polls and earned enough support to qualify. The network says it has even prepared an "emergency podium“ should the Veep decide to join the mix at the last moment.

Insiders say the Biden will most likely sit out the opening debate in order to evaluate the field and make a more informed decision as to his intentions. With Biden’s participation unlikely, all eyes will be on frontrunner Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders, who has been the only candidate to make any headway against the former Secretary, Senator and First Lady.

Neither Webb (a one-term Senator from Virginia), O’Malley (the former Governor of Maryland) or Chafee (former Senator from and Governor of Rhode Island) have been able to crack 2 percent in the national polls, though they’ll all surely be looking to use tonight’s debate to breakthrough. That will likely mean sharp attacks on Clinton.

Sanders, who drew over 9,000 voters to a rally in Colorado this weekend, continues to lead Clinton in New Hampshire, while closing the gap in Iowa. Considering that he just raised $26 million this quarter to Clinton’s $28 million, he can likely count on additional support from voters who liked his platform but were unsure if he had a chance to secure the nomination.

Sanders will likely push Clinton on progressive issues like health care, her support for and from Wall Street and big banks, while he and other candidates might also target her numerous flip flops including the TPP trade agreement, the Defense of Marriage Act, the Keystone XL pipeline and ethanol subsidies.

The Clinton family's wealth could also be a factor in a race in which poverty and a growing income gap are central to Democratic issues, especially among its base. Clinton and her husband left the White House in 1992 with a negative net worth. The former President has reportedly taken in more than $100 million dollars in speaking fees since, while Hillary earns as much as $200,000 per appearance since stepping down as Secretary of State, giving them a net worth that is in the top tenth of the top 1 percent, so often reviled in Democratic politics. Clinton's greatest financial support has also come from Wall Street and big banks.

Nonetheless, Clinton still has a sizable lead in both national polls and fundraising and is the odds on favorite to win the nomination. The pressure from Sanders–and potential pressure from Biden, who polls show cutting into Clinton’s lead over Sanders significantly–has led to a leftward pivot, however, that Republicans hope will make it more difficult for her in the general election if she does become the party nominee.