Paris attacks to play central role at Democratic presidential debate

Saturday night’s Democratic presidential debate will go forward despite Friday’s attacks in Paris, but with a heightened focus on foreign policy and national security, debate host CBS News announced.

The network’s executive editor, Steve Capus, tweeted that the attacks raised “important questions” for the three remaining Democratic candidates, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley.

Capus told the New York Times that the attacks had made the contours of the debate “[change] dramatically.”

The new emphasis could highlight the divide between the hawkish Clinton and Sanders, who, beyond his opposition to the Iraq War, has not made foreign affairs a central priority of his campaign.

Both candidates issued statements about the attacks on Friday night.

The debate takes place in Des Moines, Iowa at 9 PM ET on CBS.