In response, Sanders raised the volume and the stakes, appealing to Democrats to support his call for a political revolution. “I’ll rely on the middle class and working families”, thundered Sanders.
Advertisement
At moments, role reversal seemed to be underway. You don’t need any account or login to make it work-just hit play on the YouTube video above, and you should get all the hot liberal-on-liberal action from SC.
There were good reasons for Clinton’s posture in the debate.
“I have to say I’m not sure whether we’re talking about the plan you introduced tonight or the plan you introduced nine times over 20 years”, she told Sanders.
“When it comes to the economy and what was accomplished under my husband’s leadership and the ’90s especially when it came to raising incomes for everybody and lifting more people out of poverty than at any time in recent history you bet, ‘m going to ask for his ideas, I’m going ask for his advice”, Ms Clinton said.
Clinton deeply defended and promoted the policies of President Barack Obama, particularly the expansion of coverage that came after passage of the Affordable Care Act.
While Clinton leads nationwide, Sanders is a threat in key states. Clinton has become the candidate of continuity.
Democratic strategist Richard Socarides, a Clinton supporter, said Republicans were bound to portray her potential presidency as a third Obama term anyway.
The two tangled over financial policy, too, with Sanders suggesting Clinton won’t be tough enough on Wall Street given the big contributions and speaking fees she’s accepted from the financial sector.
The debate reflected the campaign in another way. They talked over one another and past one another.
Democratic presidential candidates, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, left, Hillary Clinton and Sen.
Dissatisfaction with Obama and the agenda in Washington have helped propel two candidates outside the Republican establishment – businessman Donald Trump and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas – to the top of the party’s crowded presidential field.
The candidates won’t face each other on a national debate stage again until February 11 in Milwaukee – after the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary.
The NBC debate moderators launched the foreign policy section of the debate in its second hour with a request for responses to the formal implementation this weekend of the sanctions relief for nuclear restrictions deal reached previous year between Iran and six major powers.
Sanders offered none of that.
Those figures reflect the state of the race over the last few weeks, but much can change in the final weeks of a campaign. Now, he’s a real threat and her strategy was aimed at him, not the GOP. But Sanders has countered with the kind of grass-roots enthusiasm that has proved successful in some past caucuses.
Sanders said that although he believes the former president’s sexual indiscretions while in office were “deplorable” – they shouldn’t be a subject of debate. He already holds an advantage, in part because he represents neighboring Vermont in the Senate. It would also bring about a fresh round of second-guessing among Clinton’s outside advisers, donors and loyalists. Her advisers see both as likely firewalls to give her a chance to regroup should she lose in Iowa and New Hampshire.
The Vermont senator is gaining momentum in the north but is struggling to connect with the African-American community and minorities.
Will they likewise be surprised by the outcome in Iowa and New Hampshire?
It’s a reflection of a tightening race: Clinton spent her first months of the 2016 campaign refusing to even utter Sanders’ name.
Advertisement
“There’s no other industry in America that was given a total pass”, Clinton said. Sunday’s debate amounted to the opening of a closing argument.
