In this Nov. 16, 2019, photo Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a presidential forum at the California Democratic Party’s convention in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

7 key questions heading into the 2020 Democratic debate

By STEVE PEOPLES AP National Political Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — New uncertainty hangs over the Democratic presidential primary as 10 candidates meet on the debate stage once again.

No longer is there a clear front-runner. The fight for African American voters is raging. And there are growing concerns that impeachment may become a distraction from the primary. Those issues and more will play out Wednesday night when the Democratic Party’s top 10 face off in Atlanta just 75 days before primary voting begins.

Seven big questions heading into the debate, to be carried on MSNBC:

WHO IS THE FRONT-RUNNER?

Turbulent polling across the early voting states has created a murky picture of the top tier of the 2020 class. As much as Joe Biden is still a front-runner, so are Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders. The question is who gets the front-runner treatment in Wednesday’s debate. Warren was under near-constant attack last month as a new leader. Will Warren continue to face the heat, or will the ascendant Buttigieg or weakening Biden take more hits?