Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton met on a Democratic debate stage in Wisconsin on completely different trajectories. Sanders, two days removed from a dominant win in the New Hampshire primary, has been oozing confidence and raking in donations. Clinton, on the other hand, is presiding over a sprawling but shaken campaign operation searching for a rebound in Nevada or South Carolina.
Here are the most significant moments from tonight’s debate--
Sanders swings first
When Clinton began describing what she would do as president, particularly on the size of federal government, Sanders moved quickly to interrupt her attempt to present herself as an incumbent.
“Secretary Clinton, you’re not in the White House yet,” he said sharply. It was only the beginning of Sanders’ more aggressive approach in this forum while Clinton aimed over and again to show little ideological distance between herself and her rival.
Children crossing the border
One of the sharpest exchanges of the debate came amid a discussion about the thousands of central American children that poured over the border in 2014. The issue led to a fierce debate about whether the children should be returned home or allowed to remain in the US. “I thought it was a good idea to allow those children to stay in this country. That was not, I understand, the secretary’s position,” Sanders said. Clinton said she fought to ensure children who arrived here were “processed appropriately” but she wanted to “send a message to families and communities” not to send their children on dangerous journeys to America. “I don’t know to whom you’re sending a message. Who are you sending a message to?” Sanders shot back. “These are children who are leaving countries and neighborhoods.”
Sanders breaks with Ted Kennedy on immigration
In the protracted debate on immigration, Clinton dinged Sanders for opposing Ted Kennedy’s comprehensive immigration reform bill. Sanders heaped praise on Kennedy but said he broke with his ally because it enshrined guest worker programmes that Latino advocacy groups said were “akin to slavery.” “I don’t apologise for that vote,” he said.
Kissinger makes a debate cameo
Testing new and more detailed critiques on Clinton’s foreign policy credentials, Sanders delivered a scalding rejection of Henry Kissinger, the secretary of state who helped craft Richard Nixon’s approach to Asia, and someone who Clinton has bragged about taking advice from. “I happen to believe that Henry Kissinger was one of the most destructive secretaries of state in the modern history of this country,” Sanders said. “I am proud to say that Henry Kissinger is not my friend. I will not take advice from Kissinger.” Clinton noted ongoing questions about from who, exactly, Sanders does receive advice on foreign affairs. “Well I know journalists have asked who you do listen to on foreign policy, and we have yet to know who that is,” she said.
