Indeed, Clinton spent much of the debate finding common ground with Sanders on one issue after another, referring at one point to their “vigorous agreement”.
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South Carolina State Rep. Justin Bamberg, a former Clinton supporter now backing Sanders, defended the senator.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed had some strong words Thursday opposing Vermont Sen. Of the 10 percent of undecided respondents, 87 percent say that Clinton’s failure to disclose foreign government donations to her family’s foundation make them less likely to support her. More than three-quarters say the same about her support for the 2008 Wall Street bailouts and subsequent paid speeches at investment banks.
“Let’s not insult the intelligence of the American people”, Sanders said.
On healthcare reform, Clinton accused Sanders of making promises that he can not make good on.
Based on the social media data collected by InsideGov during the debate, Sanders once again outperformed Clinton in this arena. The former secretary of state retains a hefty lead in superdelegates and establishment support, but Sanders has all the momentum.
The exchange underscored the degree to which Obama’s legacy has become tug-of-war between Clinton and Sanders as the Democratic race winds into Nevada and SC, where minority voters play a pivotal role. After that primary on February 20, seven Southern states including Georgia and Virginia will anchor the Super Tuesday primaries on March 1. She also noted that Obama picked her to be secretary of state. She was calm and cool throughout – even when fighting on Sanders’s home turf on wage inequality.
That’s an example of the way Sanders’s laudable self-confidence, and his passionate belief in big, systemic change, is causing problems for his candidacy when it comes to the issue of Obama.
“One of us ran against Barack Obama”, Sanders added. But he also stressed that Sanders respects Obama and was not suggesting that race relations have gotten worse since 2009. And I think when you give low-income kids, African Americans, white, Latino kids the opportunities to get their lives together, they are not going to end up in jail.
“Don’t listen to the Trumps of the world and allow them to divide us”.
“The Clinton campaign takes every single thing that comes out of his mouth, twists it and distorts it and throws it back”, said top Sanders strategist Tad Devine after the debate.
If Ms. Clinton solidifies her support among black voters over the next month, she could amass a significant number of delegates in the push toward the 2,382 needed to win the party nomination.
Clinton pointed out that African Americans face discrimination in the job market, education, housing and the criminal justice system. Both were animated on a fundamental question facing Democrats: has President Barack Obama gone far enough in his policies?
They disagreed with a new series of raids authorised by Mr Obama to arrest and deport some people from Central America who recently came to the country illegally.
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JUDY WOODRUFF: Sanders moved on to campaign in Minnesota today.
