This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-35340061
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| US Democratic debate: Candidates spar on gun control | US Democratic debate: Candidates spar on gun control |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Candidates for the Democratic race for the White House have clashed on gun control and healthcare in their liveliest TV debate so far. | Candidates for the Democratic race for the White House have clashed on gun control and healthcare in their liveliest TV debate so far. |
| Hillary Clinton attacked Bernie Sanders' record on gun control, and said his healthcare plan risked derailing recent legislation. | Hillary Clinton attacked Bernie Sanders' record on gun control, and said his healthcare plan risked derailing recent legislation. |
| Mr Sanders accused Mrs Clinton of being in the pocket of financial institutions responsible for the 2008 crisis. | Mr Sanders accused Mrs Clinton of being in the pocket of financial institutions responsible for the 2008 crisis. |
| While Mrs Clinton leads nationwide, Mr Sanders is a threat in key states. | While Mrs Clinton leads nationwide, Mr Sanders is a threat in key states. |
| Hours before the debate in South Carolina, Mr Sanders - a Vermont senator - had unveiled a healthcare plan for all American citizens. | Hours before the debate in South Carolina, Mr Sanders - a Vermont senator - had unveiled a healthcare plan for all American citizens. |
| This was the final Democratic debate before caucuses in Iowa on 1 February show who the state's voters prefer as their candidate. | This was the final Democratic debate before caucuses in Iowa on 1 February show who the state's voters prefer as their candidate. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Mr Sanders announced his universal healthcare plan two hours before the debate started. | Mr Sanders announced his universal healthcare plan two hours before the debate started. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Analysis - Kim Ghattas, BBC News, Charleston | Analysis - Kim Ghattas, BBC News, Charleston |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | The Vermont senator is gaining momentum in the north but is struggling to connect with the African-American community and minorities. |
| Clinton v Sanders: Who came out on top? | Clinton v Sanders: Who came out on top? |
| 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. | 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. | 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." |
| Other subjects discussed included: | 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. | 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. |
| What else did we learn? | What else did we learn? |