Democrat Hillary Clinton went on the attack against rival Bernie Sanders on Thursday (February 4) in their most contentious presidential debate yet, questioning whether his ambitious proposals were viable and saying it was unfair to question her liberal credentials.
Sanders fought back repeatedly, accusing Clinton of representing the political establishment during a debate that featured sharp differences over healthcare, college tuition funding and efforts to rein in Wall Street.
The intensity of the exchanges reflected a race that has seen Clinton’s once prohibitive lead shrivel against a relatively unknown underdog in the battle over who would best lead the Democratic Party in the Nov. 8 election and who could deliver on the party’s liberal agenda.
Clinton said Sanders’ proposal for single-payer universal healthcare coverage would jeopardise Obamacare, calling it “a great mistake,” and she said his plans for free college education would be too costly to be realistic.
“I want to imagine a country where people’s wages reflect their hard work. Where we have health care for everyone and where every child gets to live up to his or her potential. I’m fighting for people who cannot wait for those changes and I’m not making promises that I cannot keep,” Clinton said.
In response, Sanders said he would not dismantle Obamacare but would expand it, pointing to how many other countries provide universal healthcare.
“The Affordable Care Act has clearly as Secretary Clinton made the point, done a lot of good things. But what it has not done is dealt with the fact that we have 29 million people today who have zero health insurance. We have even more who are under-insured with large deductibles and co-payments and prescription drug prices are off the wall,” Sanders said.
“So I do believe that in the future, not by dismantling what we have here, I helped write that bill, but my moving forward rallying the American people I do believe we should have health care for all.”
Sanders said his proposal for free tuition at public universities would be paid with a tax on Wall Street speculation.
Five days before New Hampshire holds the second of the state-by-state presidential nominating contests, polls show Sanders, a U.S. senator from neighbouring Vermont, has a double-digit lead over Clinton after surprising the front-runner by finishing just barely behind her in Iowa on Monday.
The debate was the first since former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley dropped out on Monday after a poor finish in Iowa.
Sanders accused Clinton of representing “the establishment,” while saying he represented “ordinary working Americans.” He also noted her Super PAC (Political Action Committee) had taken contributions from Wall Street firms and that Clinton has received speaking fees from Goldman Sachs.
“I am very proud to be the only candidate up here who does not have a super PAC,” Sanders said.
Clinton called that an “artful smear” and said she had never changed a view or a vote because of donations.
“Enough is enough. If you’ve got something to say, say it directly,” Clinton told Sanders.
She also disputed the establishment label, saying it was quite amusing to accuse a woman, running to be the first woman president, as the establishment.
The two battled over who best represented progressive ideals. Sanders said he would lead a “political revolution,” but Clinton questioned his ability to get his proposals through a Republican-led Congress.
Sanders repeated his earlier pledge not to attack Clinton on the controversy over her use of a private email account and a private server for government business when she was secretary of state.
Clinton has tried to play down expectations for her performance in New Hampshire, where she came from behind for an upset victory in the 2008 campaign just days after losing badly to Barack Obama in Iowa.
The surprisingly strong performance by Sanders in Iowa is likely to prolong a race that Clinton entered as the presumptive front-runner. (Reuters)
