If it seemed like John Delaney was always responding to Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday night, youre not wrong.

The CNN moderators went to Delaney 11 times during Tuesdays Democratic debates as they tried to draw out the drama between the former Maryland congressman and the liberal senators from Massachusetts and Vermont.

Despite polling below 1% in the Real Clear Politics aggregate polling average, Delaney got the fourth-most time of the 10 candidates on stage, just behind Warren (polling at 14%), Sanders (polling at 16.2%), and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg (polling at 5.7%).

As in his first debate, Delaneys strategy was to contrast himself with Sanders and Warren. But that also seemed to be CNNs strategy. In fact, the most notable aspect of Delaneys debate performance was that every question he answered was either preceded or followed by an answer from Sanders or Warren.

When Jake Tapper began moderating the debate, he started by asking Sanders what he would say to Delaney, who has called Medicare for All political suicide.

Youre wrong, Sanders shot back as he detailed the flaws in the U.S. health care system.

The moderators then gave Delaney a minute to respond to Sanders, the top-polling candidate on the stage Tuesday night.

Delaneys answer hewed closely to GOP talking points about health care. He said Democrats didnt need to be the party of subtraction when it came to private health insurance, and when CNN went back to him for a follow-up, added that Democrats shouldnt be the party of taking something away from people.

Warren, the second-highest polling candidate on the stage, also took on Delaney, saying Democrats are not trying to take away health care from anyone. Thats what the Republicans are trying to do, she said.

The moderators brought Delaney in again to respond, and he bragged that he was the only Democrat on that stage who actually had experience in the health care business.

Its not a business, Sanders quipped.