CNN has extra debate lectern for Biden

by Jesse Byrnes - 10/12/15 12:20 PM ET

Vice President Joe Biden is not expected to be at the first Democratic presidential debate Tuesday, but CNN will have a sixth lectern there for him — just in case.

Jim Acosta, CNN’s senior White House correspondent, tweeted a picture of the lectern on Monday morning amid debate preparations in Las Vegas:

In case of Biden break out podium number 6. Here it is folks. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/27B7ij3IEO

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) October 12, 2015

CNN has said that Biden could accept an invitation to the debate as late as Tuesday, the day of the debate. Currently, five candidates are slated to appear.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the front-runner, will be flanked by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley on the stage.

Former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee and former Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) will be on the outer edges of the stage, based on a podium lineup from CNN.

Biden is weighing whether to join the 2016 fray and run for president, but reportedly pushed the decision past the first Democratic debate.

Tags 2016 debate 2016 Democratic primary CNN Hillary Clinton Joe Biden