Fact-checking the Democratic debate from Houston

This debate, in Houston, features the 10 candidates who met polling and fundraising thresholds set by the Democratic National Committee.

We can expect clashes between the front-runner in the polls, Vice President Joe Biden, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who has consistently been in second or third place. They will be sharing a debate stage for the first time.

The debate comes as Biden and his rivals have sharpened their criticism of one another's campaign themes. A Biden adviser signaled to CNN that the former vice president would argue that "we need more than plans," a jab at Warren's "I've got a plan for that" mantra. Warren and several other candidates have been urging voters not to go with the "safe" option; Biden's campaign has touted him as "steady" and "stable."

The two previous debates (fact checks here and here) have included lengthy exchanges on health care between candidates who prefer single-payer "Medicare for All" plans, like Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Warren, and candidates whose plans retain a significant role for private insurers, like Biden and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

The debate will also feature Sen. Kamala Harris of California, former Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas, businessman Andrew Yang, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro.

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