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US Democratic debate: Candidates spar on gun control US Democratic debate: Candidates spar on gun control
(about 2 hours later)
Candidates for the Democratic race for the White House have clashed on gun control and healthcare in a live TV debate. Candidates for the Democratic race for the White House have clashed on gun control and healthcare in their liveliest TV debate so far.
While Hillary Clinton leads nationwide, she is facing a threat from Vermont senator Bernie Sanders in key states. Hillary Clinton attacked Bernie Sanders' record on gun control, and said his healthcare plan risked derailing recent legislation.
Before the debate in South Carolina, Mr Sanders unveiled a healthcare plan for all American citizens. Mr Sanders accused Mrs Clinton of being in the pocket of financial institutions responsible for the 2008 crisis.
Ms Clinton said the move risked derailing healthcare legislation introduced under President Obama. While Mrs Clinton leads nationwide, Mr Sanders is a threat in key states.
This was the final Democratic debate before caucuses in Iowa on 1 February. Hours before the debate in South Carolina, Mr Sanders - a Vermont senator - had unveiled a healthcare plan for all American citizens.
Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, who is trailing Ms Clinton and Mr Sanders in polls, also took part. This was the final Democratic debate before caucuses in Iowa on 1 February show who the state's voters prefer as their candidate.
Mr Sanders' universal healthcare plan, announced two hours before the debate started, would see citizens pay what he called "a 2.2% income-based premium" towards healthcare. Companies would pay an extra 6.2% of an employee's income towards the plan. Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, who is trailing Mrs Clinton and Mr Sanders in polls, also took part in the lively debate in which personal attacks were few and far between.
The plan, Mr Sanders' campaign website said, was a way to "stop forcing working Americans to choose between bargaining for higher wages or better health insurance". Mr Sanders announced his universal healthcare plan two hours before the debate started.
Ms Clinton said any moves to scrap the current Affordable Healthcare Act risked plunging the Democrats into "contentious debate". Instead, the party should work on improving the programme, known as Obamacare. Mrs Clinton said any moves to scrap the current Affordable Healthcare Act risked plunging the Democrats into "contentious debate". Instead, the party should work on improving the programme, known as Obamacare.
Mr Sanders responded: "Nobody is tearing this up." He said he wanted to build on Obamacare.Mr Sanders responded: "Nobody is tearing this up." He said he wanted to build on Obamacare.
Gun control was the first subject in the debate, that was held near a church in Charleston where nine parishioners were shot dead in June 2015. Analysis - Kim Ghattas, BBC News, Charleston
Ms Clinton released an advertisement this week attacking Mr Sanders for his attitude towards gun control. His home state, Vermont, has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the US, with close to one in two households owning a weapon. This was a spirited, substantive debate, much more heated than the last three Democratic debates but still more civil than anything we've seen on the Republican side.
Bernie Sanders was on the offensive, buoyed by his recent gains in the polls in Iowa and New Hampshire. Hillary Clinton still has a double-digit lead nationally and was declared the winner of the debate by the American media.
O'Malley was nowhere to be seen, but Clinton and Sanders worked hard to sharpen the differences between them, particularly on gun control and healthcare.
The Vermont senator is gaining momentum in the north but is struggling to connect with the African-American community and minorities.
Gun control was the first subject in the two-hour debate, that was held near a church in Charleston where nine parishioners were shot dead in June 2015.
Mrs Clinton released an advertisement this week attacking Mr Sanders for his attitude towards gun control. His home state, Vermont, has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the US, with close to one in two households owning a weapon.
In the debate, she again highlighted legislation she said showed that Mr Sanders supported the gun lobby.In the debate, she again highlighted legislation she said showed that Mr Sanders supported the gun lobby.
But Mr Sanders told the debate he had a "D minus voting record" from the National Rifle Association, and fully supported moves by President Obama for tougher background checks on gun buyers.But Mr Sanders told the debate he had a "D minus voting record" from the National Rifle Association, and fully supported moves by President Obama for tougher background checks on gun buyers.
Mr O'Malley pointed out restrictions he passed against combat assault weapons in Maryland, adding: "I have never met a self-respecting deer hunter who needed an AR-15 [semi-automatic rifle] to down a deer."Mr O'Malley pointed out restrictions he passed against combat assault weapons in Maryland, adding: "I have never met a self-respecting deer hunter who needed an AR-15 [semi-automatic rifle] to down a deer."
Polls indicate Ms Clinton and Mr Sanders are neck-and-neck ahead of the caucus in Iowa, where voters will decide who they want as their preferred candidate. She had once commanded a large lead. Other subjects discussed included:
Polls indicate Mrs Clinton and Mr Sanders are neck-and-neck ahead of the caucus in Iowa, where voters will decide who they want as their preferred candidate. She had once commanded a large lead.
In New Hampshire, Mr Sanders holds a lead in polls ahead of voting in the primary there eight days later.In New Hampshire, Mr Sanders holds a lead in polls ahead of voting in the primary there eight days later.
Q&A: US primaries and caucusesQ&A: US primaries and caucuses
What else did we learn?