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Ahead of Tuesday’s Democratic primary debate, it seems that CNN has all its bases covered. The network is keeping a spare lectern at the ready in case Vice President Joe Biden declares a last-minute bid.

Biden, who is expected to announce his decision sometime this month, does not plan to participate in the first Democratic presidential debate Tuesday night, but the invitation remains open to the vice president should he make an eleventh-hour decision to jump into the race and join Democratic rivals on the debate stage.

From the Huffington Post:

Per CNN’s debate rules, Biden could jump in at the 11th hour since he’s polling at more than 1 percent in at least three national, recognized polls — but insiders told CNN he’s likely to sit Tuesday out.

The network’s senior White House correspondent, Jim Acosta, took to Twitter on Monday morning to offer a behind-the-scenes peek at how preparations for the event, to be held in Las Vegas, were shaping up:

Currently, five Democratic contenders are expected to face off at the debate: 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.

The debate will take place Tuesday starting at 8:30 p.m. EDT.

–Posted by Roisin Davis

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