While the allegations that Sanders’ campaign improperly exploited a breach in the Democratic National Committee voter database kicked off the third Democratic presidential debate in New Hampshire, it wasn’t the issue the defined it. Candidates spent most of the night engaged in an extensive conversation about foreign policy and national security.
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The Bernie Sanders, Democratic National Committee drama has been resolved – for now.
In truth, all three candidates put in a strong performance.
Sanders’ remarks come after a bug in the firewall of the Democratic Party’s voter data software allowed four Sanders staffers to access files belonging to the Clinton campaign.
The database furor cooled quickly.
“Most families haven’t had a wage increase since 2001, since the end of the last Clinton administration, when incomes did go up for everybody…and I don’t think a middle class tax should be part of anybody’s plan right now”, said Hillary Clinton.
Sanders was less convincing as a potential president.
In response, Tad Devine, tweeted a link to an article about Clinton’s Iraq War vote, which has dogged her in this campaign. On issue after issue, she wouldn’t be rattled. Clinton countered that Sanders, too, had supported regime change in Libya.
Clinton, whose campaign said Sanders made a number of breaches into Clinton computer files, accepted the apology and said it was time to move on.
But Clinton officials later Friday said that it supported Sanders having access to the data – and DNC officials said Saturday that it would restore Sanders’ access to the information.
He called the DNC move an “egregious act”.
Sanders’ campaign said its access was restored early Saturday morning.
Team Sanders was then locked out – a decision that, if final, would essentially constitute a campaign death sentence.
Sanders said he fired one campaign staffer who inappropriately accessed Clinton’s data and pledged to conduct an internal investigation and fire anyone else who did the same.
Sanders blasted O’Malley’s contention and said while the Democrats can make all the speeches they want on firearms-related issues, they’re not going to succeed unless they focus on areas where there is a consensus. Sanders, her closest competitor, polled at 26 percent, and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley polled at just 4 percent. This is a result, he said, of “flip-flopping” by Sanders and Clinton. Sanders was ready, saying he backed eliminating the gun show loophole and strengthening instant background checks.
O’Malley accused his rivals of being too soft on gun control.
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Sanders’ campaign spokesman Michael Briggs said it was not the first time the technology company has dropped the firewall.
