NEWS: Bernie plans to participate in an April DNC debate-sign he isn't planning on dropping out soon

[Skya Rhen]

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Senator Bernie Sanders plans to participate in the Democratic presidential debate in April if one is held, his campaign said on Tuesday, the strongest indication yet that he plans to continue competing against Joseph R. Biden Jr. in the 2020 primary for the foreseeable future.

The Democratic National Committee has said previously that there would be a debate in April, but one has not been scheduled. The committee has not announced a media partner or a site host — critical elements that are typically agreed upon at least a month in advance. The coronavirus crisis has already upended most facets of the Democratic primary, and there is no guarantee that the debate will take place.

Still, the fact that the Sanders campaign is signaling, for now, that he would be on a debate stage in April is a strikingly public sign of the Vermont senator’s determination to wield political influence and challenge Mr. Biden for primacy despite the former vice president’s nearly insurmountable delegate lead.

“Senator Sanders is still running for president,” said Mike Casca, a top campaign official. “If there is a debate in April, he plans to be there.”

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The Democratic National Committee has not set a media partner, a venue or a date for the party’s final planned debate, nor has it released qualification criteria to participate.

Xochitl Hinojosa, a D.N.C. spokeswoman, declined to say whether a debate would still take place in April as planned or move later in the calendar to follow primary contests from several states that have switched from April to June. The Biden campaign declined to comment.