CBS News is changing its game plan for Saturday's Democratic primary debate in the aftermath of the Paris terror attacks. 
 
 The debate questions prepared earlier this week by CBS News political director John Dickerson and the network's congressional correspondent, Nancy Cordes, were designed to burrow deep into the candidates' views on domestic issues such as the Affordable Care Act and gun legislation. But once the news of the deadly coordinated killing rampage in Paris circulated late Friday afternoon, the moderators and producers started planning a greater emphasis on security in the debate queries. 
 
 FULL COVERAGE: Paris terror attacks 
 
 "This becomes the first segment," said Steve Capus, the executive editor for CBS News who is overseeing the production of the event at Drake University in Des Moines. "You've got to get into how do you handle international terrorism? Do voters believe you are best suited for this? Are voters concerned about how you handle the situation?" 
 
 Capus said having the candidates react to the news of the moment demonstrates the value of a lengthy campaign season. 
 
 "Everybody talks about how the whole process is too long, and arguably it is," he said. "However, these are the types of events that make this whole cycle dynamic, and our production has to reflect that.” 
 
 There was no consideration of postponing the debate, in which Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley will meet onstage for the second time starting at 6 p.m. PST. But the developments in Paris have led CBS to scratch plans for Dickerson to anchor his Sunday program "Face the Nation" from the debate site at Drake. 
 
 Instead, Dickerson will head to Washington, after the debate and broadcast from the network's bureau there. He has booked Rep. Devin Nunes, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and Michael Morell, former deputy CIA director, to appear. 
 
 CBS is also airing a special "48 Hours" on the attacks after the debate telecast on the West Coast. In the East, it will preceed the debate at 8 p.m. 
 
 Follow me on Twitter @SteveBattaglio 
 
 MORE ON THE PARIS ATTACKS 
 
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 Interactive map: Violence in France 
 
 Eagles of Death Metal band members said to be safe after deadly Paris attacks ||||| DES MOINES — In the hours after the deadly attacks in Paris, CBS News significantly reworked its plans for the Democratic presidential debate it is hosting here on Saturday night to focus more on issues of terrorism, national security and foreign relations. 
 
 Steve Capus, the executive editor of CBS News and the executive producer of “CBS Evening News,” said in an interview late Friday that he was in the middle of a rehearsal for the debate when news broke about the slaughter in Paris. 
 
 The CBS News team immediately shifted gears and reformulated questions to make them more directly related to the attacks. Mr. Capus said it was important for the debate to go on because the world looks to the American president for leadership during international crises. 
 
 “American leadership is put to the test,” Mr. Capus said. “The entire world is looking to the White House. These people are vying to take over this office.”
– The second Democratic primary debate will go on as scheduled Saturday on CBS News, but the focus has changed dramatically in the wake of the attacks that left more than 100 dead in Paris, the Los Angeles Times reports. "You've got to get into how do you handle international terrorism?" says Steve Capus, head of production for the debate. "Do voters believe you are best suited for this? Are voters concerned about how you handle the situation?" CBS had planned on sticking largely with questions about domestic issues, such as ObamaCare and gun control, for candidates Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O'Malley. The New York Times reports the emphasis now will be on security, international relations, and terrorism. Capus says the change in questions is important because in times of crisis, the world turns to the White House and the president for guidance. “This is exactly what the president is going to have to face,” he says. The debate is scheduled to take place at Drake University in Iowa.