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Democratic debate: Sanders wins Maine, faces Clinton in Flint — live | |
(35 minutes later) | |
1.32am GMT | |
01:32 | |
Clinton counters by saying Sanders did not support the stimulus to resurrect the American auto industry, which was part of the bailout money in the financial crisis in 2008. | |
“Well I want to talk about the Wall Street bailout,” Sanders says. Clinton jumps in. | |
Sanders: “Excuse me, I’m talking” | |
Clinton: “If you’re going to talk, tell the whole story.” | |
Sanders: “Let me tell my story you tell yours.” | |
Clinton: I will. | |
Sanders says that Clinton was “voting for corporate America. Did I vote against the Wall Street bailout?” | |
Billionaires came to Congress in 2008, he says, and said: “Oh please, we’ll be good boys, bail us out.” | |
“I said let the billionaires bail themselves out. And let’s help the middle class.” | |
Clinton says she wants “to set the record straight, I voted against the only multinationa trade deal that came before me. I came out against the TPP. After it finished. I thought it was reasonable to know what it was about before I opposed it.” | |
She says she supported the bailout because it had “the $350m that was needed to restructure the auto industry.” | |
“You have to make hard choices when you’re in positions of responsibility … If everybody had voted the way he did, I believe the auto industry would have collapsed, taking four million jobs with it.” | |
Sanders counters that he was for the auto money and the stimulus: “Of course that made sense. And I strongly supported president Obama’s position.” | |
Is he a one-issue candidate? “I guess so. My one issue is trying to rebuild a disappearing middle class.” | |
Clinton maintains that she made the right call: “I voted to save the auto industry, and I’m very glad I did.” | |
1.26am GMT | |
01:26 | |
Cooper asks about the long-running jobs crisis in in Flint. Clinton says she wants to invest in small businesses, and growing jobs for women and in poor neighborhoods. Then she says she wants to make big companies who’ve left the area pay for their choices, citing Nabisco. | |
“I’m going to claw back those benefits. They’re going to have to pay back if they’re leaving a place that actually invested in them. I’m also going to go after companies like Johnson Controls in Wisconsin. They got part of the bailout … now they want to move some of their headquarters to Europe. They’re going to have to pay an exit fee.” | |
Sanders has a riposte: “I’m very glad, Anderson, that secretary Clinton discovered religion on this issue.” | |
He says she supported nearly every one of the “disastrous trade agreements”, such as Nafta (“tens of thousands of jobs”), trade relations with China, etc. He says he was | |
“You didn’t need a PhD in economics – American workers should not be forced to compete with people in Mexico making 25c an hour.” | |
1.23am GMT | |
01:23 | |
Why shouldn’t the people of Flint believe you aren’t just using this crisis to score political points, a Flint resident asks Clinton. | |
The crowd applauds his question. | |
Clinton cites her long career of activism, from Arkansas to the White House to the Senate for New York. “This problem is one that is particularly outrageous and painful at the same time,” she says, going on to say that she’s connected with the parents and children whose suffering she’s seen with every visit to the city. | |
“I’m just determined to do whatever I can, so I have … you’ve got to get the federal money, you’ve got to get the state money, and I will be with Flint all the way through this crisis, in whatever capacity I am.” | |
Sanders gets the same question – the resident notes that the senator first arrived in Flint for the first time in the last couple weeks before the state’s primary. | |
“I met very quietly in Detroit with parents and others who were affected by this disaster, and the other thing I did was hold a town meeting,” he says, for hundreds of people to him what they wanted. | |
“At some point the TV cameras and CNN is going to disappear – applause – and then people are going to be left struggling.” | |
“All I can say is if you check my record going back a long time, I have stood with those who are hurting. I have stood with those who have no money. And I have stood up to nearly every powerful interest in the United States of America.” | |
Meanwhile, the governor has responded to the calls for his resignation from the Democratic debate. | |
I'm taking responsibility as our value system says we should. My track record is getting things done, and I want to get this done. #FlintFWD | |
1.18am GMT | |
01:18 | |
Back in the debate, where the candidates have yet to learn that Sanders has won Maine – they’re still talking about what exactly they would do about Flint, and whom would pay for the disaster. | |
“There has to be absolute accountability and I will support” whatever a investigation determines, Clinton says. | |
Senator Sanders, should people go to jail? | |
Sanders: “I can’t sit up here and make judgment about whether somebody committed a criminal act.” | |
1.14am GMT | |
01:14 | |
Sanders wins Maine | |
The Vermont senator has won the Maine caucuses, per the Associated Press’ call of the race. | |
BREAKING: Bernie Sanders wins the Democratic presidential caucuses in Maine. @AP race call at 8 p.m. EST. #Election2016 #APracecall | |
Related: Bernie Sanders wins Maine caucuses as Marco Rubio takes Puerto Rico | |
Updated | |
at 1.15am GMT | |
1.14am GMT | |
01:14 | |
Cooper points out that government, which Sanders wants to grow, is what mismanaged Flint’s water. Sanders says who else is going to fix the situation. | |
“I suppose they could trust corporations that have destroyed Flint by a disastrous trade policy … We could trust them, oh sure. Or maybe, Anderson, tell you what maybe we should take Wall Street come in and run the city of Flint,” he says. | |
“No, we live in a democracy, and I’ll be the last person to deny the government is failing in many respects. But I would trust the people to choose a government that works for them.” | |
Clinton’s turn: she says she would launch an investigation into what happened in the state EPA offices where officials failed to act or warn others about the toxic water. | |
“Yes, people should be fired. How far up it went, I don’t know. … But they should be relieved.” | |
She points out that many cities around the US have skewed water reports, and also have dangerous levels of toxins. | |
Sanders turn: “President Sanders would fire anybody who knew what was happening and did not act according. A president Sanders would make the point that how does it happen in the wealthiest country in the history of the world.” | |
Related: Water utilities serving American cities use tests that downplay contamination | |
1.09am GMT | |
01:09 | |
Sanders’ turn on the question of specifics. “What is going on is a disgrace beyond belief. As president of the United States this is what I would do.” | |
“If local government does not have the resources, if state government … refuses to act,” he says, “federal government comes in, federal government acts.” | |
“Water rates have soared in Flint. You are paying three times more for poison water than I’m paying in Burlington, Vermont for clean water. First thing you do is say people are not paying a water bill for poison water. And that is retroactive.” | |
The he says the CDC has to intervene to examine every child and adult for degrees of lead poisoning. Finally he repeats the push for reconstructing infrastructure. | |
Updated | |
at 1.10am GMT | |
1.07am GMT | |
01:07 | |
A Flint resident asks Clinton what would she actually do. | |
“All the repair work that is being done, and mayor Weaver announced a program that we support to begin to help train people to do some of this work,” Clinton says. | |
“Everything that is done has to be triple checked to regain your trust and to hold those responsible … You bathe in it, you drink it, you wash food.” | |
“I will make sure as president that I double and triple check … I will work with elected officials that I trust, like your mayor” to make sure that basic necessities are available and safe. | |
Cooper presses her on what would she do as president, right now, if she could, and Clinton says she supports Barack Obama’s emergency support for the city. She adds that she supports the mayor’s program to get Flint residents themselves trained to fix the pipes and provide emergency aid immediately. | |
1.05am GMT | |
01:05 | |
“I say amen to that,” Clinton says when it’s her turn. She adds that she too wants governor Rick Snyder to resign. | |
But “that is not enough. We have to focus on what must be done to help the people of Flint.” | |
She says she supports efforts to get money from the federal government to get money to repair infrastructure – and says that Michigan should also immediately use emergency funds immediately. | |
“What is more important of the health and wellbeing, particularly of children, it is raining lead in Flint! And the state is not coming forward.” | |
Clinton’s channeling some of Sanders’ righteous anger in this speech. | |
1.03am GMT | |
01:03 | |
Sanders is asked what he would do about Flint. | |
“Over the last several weeks I had the opportunity to meet with a number of residents of Flint,” he says. “What I heard and what I saw literally shattered me, and was beyond belief.” | |
He can’t believe that children are being poisoned in 2015 and 2016. “There’s a lot of blame to go around, and one of the points that I have made is I believe the governor of this state should understand that his dereliction of duty was irresponsible. He should resign.” | |
He goes on to say that what’s happening in Flint is happening around the country, and segues to say that millionaires and billionaires have too much influence while middle-class citizens are struggling. He says infrastructure needs to be revamped around the country. | |
“The wealthiest country in the history of the world has got to get its priorities right, take care of its people, no more tax cuts for billionaires.” | |
1.01am GMT | |
01:01 | |
Cooper sets down the ground rules. Candidates have 1 minute and 15 sections per answer, and 30 seconds for a follow-up. | |
Audience members are Democrats and Flint residents whose questions have been reviewed so as not to repeat. Cooper gives a brief summary of how lead corroded into Flint’s pipes when state officials ordered residents to use toxic river water as a cost-cutting measure. You can read a deep dive on the story through the link below. | |
Related: 'It's all just poison now': Flint reels as families struggle through water crisis | |
12.58am GMT | 12.58am GMT |
00:58 | 00:58 |
CNN’s Anderson Cooper has the mic and is introducing the candidates on stage. Bernie Sanders walks out first to raucous applause, followed by Hillary Clinton, who gets her own hardly insignificant ovation. | CNN’s Anderson Cooper has the mic and is introducing the candidates on stage. Bernie Sanders walks out first to raucous applause, followed by Hillary Clinton, who gets her own hardly insignificant ovation. |
Cooper asks the room to take a moment of silence in honor of Nancy Reagan, the former first lady who died earlier Sunday. The assembled candidates and audience members bow their heads for a moment. | Cooper asks the room to take a moment of silence in honor of Nancy Reagan, the former first lady who died earlier Sunday. The assembled candidates and audience members bow their heads for a moment. |
And then it’s the Flint City Wide Choir for the national anthem, to which Clinton and Sanders mouth the words. | |
Updated | |
at 1.01am GMT | |
12.58am GMT | 12.58am GMT |
00:58 | 00:58 |
Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders at the #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/WJma9WeruO | Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders at the #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/WJma9WeruO |
12.49am GMT | 12.49am GMT |
00:49 | 00:49 |
The Democratic debate is about to get started in Flint, Michigan, with Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton set to clash over Wall Street, foreign policy, campaign finance and other issues – all while the results of Maine’s Democratic caucuses roll in. | The Democratic debate is about to get started in Flint, Michigan, with Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton set to clash over Wall Street, foreign policy, campaign finance and other issues – all while the results of Maine’s Democratic caucuses roll in. |
Both Clinton and Sanders have been campaigning hard in Michigan in recent days, with the former secretary of state visiting a string of churches on Sunday and both paying visits to the struggling city of Flint, where lead-tainted water has had residents suffering for nearly two years. The state, like Ohio and Florida in the coming weeks, is one of the key primary contests that could either keep Sanders in the race or lock Clinton’s lead for the Democratic nomination. | Both Clinton and Sanders have been campaigning hard in Michigan in recent days, with the former secretary of state visiting a string of churches on Sunday and both paying visits to the struggling city of Flint, where lead-tainted water has had residents suffering for nearly two years. The state, like Ohio and Florida in the coming weeks, is one of the key primary contests that could either keep Sanders in the race or lock Clinton’s lead for the Democratic nomination. |
We’ll have both the action on stage and the Maine results here, so stick with us for the show. | We’ll have both the action on stage and the Maine results here, so stick with us for the show. |
12.24am GMT | 12.24am GMT |
00:24 | 00:24 |
Speaking of endorsements, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Austrian bodybuilder, two-time barbarian and former governor of California, has endorsed his friend John Kasich for president. Ben Jacobs reports from Kasich’s home state of Ohio. | Speaking of endorsements, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Austrian bodybuilder, two-time barbarian and former governor of California, has endorsed his friend John Kasich for president. Ben Jacobs reports from Kasich’s home state of Ohio. |
Schwarzenegger warmly endorsed Kasich, telling the crowd of almost 1,000: “We need John Kasich to now take charge and be in the White House. The former governor, who will replace Republican frontrunner Donald Trump as host of The Apprentice, described Kasich as “an action hero” who “kicked some serious butt” during his time in Congress. | Schwarzenegger warmly endorsed Kasich, telling the crowd of almost 1,000: “We need John Kasich to now take charge and be in the White House. The former governor, who will replace Republican frontrunner Donald Trump as host of The Apprentice, described Kasich as “an action hero” who “kicked some serious butt” during his time in Congress. |
Kasich celebrated the endorsement by wearing a “governator” jacket, which he said was a gift from Schwarzenegger. Kasich spent most of his speech sticking to his insistence on “a positive message” and avoiding “name calling and sliming”. | Kasich celebrated the endorsement by wearing a “governator” jacket, which he said was a gift from Schwarzenegger. Kasich spent most of his speech sticking to his insistence on “a positive message” and avoiding “name calling and sliming”. |
However, he did retell a favorite story about how he was “whining to [Schwarzenegger] about negative campaigning in Ohio” during Kasich’s first campaign for governor in 2010. He said the then-governor of California looked him straight in the eye and said: “Love the beatings. Love them.” | However, he did retell a favorite story about how he was “whining to [Schwarzenegger] about negative campaigning in Ohio” during Kasich’s first campaign for governor in 2010. He said the then-governor of California looked him straight in the eye and said: “Love the beatings. Love them.” |
But, without winning a single state and with only a pair of second place finishes to his name so far, Kasich has had a lot of beatings to enjoy in the 2016 primary. However, while the Ohio governor is campaigning hard in Michigan’s primary on Tuesday, he has staked his entire campaign on the winner-take-all Ohio contest on 15 March, and Schwarzenegger’s endorsement added celebrity luster to hometown cred. | But, without winning a single state and with only a pair of second place finishes to his name so far, Kasich has had a lot of beatings to enjoy in the 2016 primary. However, while the Ohio governor is campaigning hard in Michigan’s primary on Tuesday, he has staked his entire campaign on the winner-take-all Ohio contest on 15 March, and Schwarzenegger’s endorsement added celebrity luster to hometown cred. |
Related: I'll be backing John Kasich, says Arnold Schwarzenegger | Related: I'll be backing John Kasich, says Arnold Schwarzenegger |
Mary Knight of Westerville, Ohio, praised Kasich as “a moderate” and noted: “What he says is sensible. He doesn’t say crazy things, over-the-top things, and grew up as a lower-middle-class person.” | Mary Knight of Westerville, Ohio, praised Kasich as “a moderate” and noted: “What he says is sensible. He doesn’t say crazy things, over-the-top things, and grew up as a lower-middle-class person.” |
Kasich, who was five points behind Trump in a recent poll of the state, just needed “to remind Ohio voters why they wanted him to be governor in first place,” Borges said. Kasich “can win, will win and everything changes when he carries Ohio.” | Kasich, who was five points behind Trump in a recent poll of the state, just needed “to remind Ohio voters why they wanted him to be governor in first place,” Borges said. Kasich “can win, will win and everything changes when he carries Ohio.” |
With all this organization behind him – at the rally on Sunday, a parade of Ohio Republicans including a former senator took the state to warm up the crowd – Kasich should be a favorite in his home state. However, with only one recent poll and a volatile electorate, anything could happen. | With all this organization behind him – at the rally on Sunday, a parade of Ohio Republicans including a former senator took the state to warm up the crowd – Kasich should be a favorite in his home state. However, with only one recent poll and a volatile electorate, anything could happen. |
As Mary Knight told the Guardian: “This is the most difficult [election] to gauge because of that idiot Trump.” | As Mary Knight told the Guardian: “This is the most difficult [election] to gauge because of that idiot Trump.” |
Updated | Updated |
at 12.31am GMT | at 12.31am GMT |
11.58pm GMT | 11.58pm GMT |
23:58 | 23:58 |
Bernie Sanders has struggled in the race to win endorsements compared to Hillary Clinton, who has racked up sitting members of Congress, former officials, civil rights veterans and celebrities. | Bernie Sanders has struggled in the race to win endorsements compared to Hillary Clinton, who has racked up sitting members of Congress, former officials, civil rights veterans and celebrities. |
Sanders has gathered more than a few celebrities, activists and former officials as well, most recently Hawaii representative Tulsi Gabbard, who quit a party post to support him, and maybe most prominently the rapper Killer Mike. But he’s just added one more: former senator Don Riegle. | Sanders has gathered more than a few celebrities, activists and former officials as well, most recently Hawaii representative Tulsi Gabbard, who quit a party post to support him, and maybe most prominently the rapper Killer Mike. But he’s just added one more: former senator Don Riegle. |
Ahead of the debate in Flint, @BernieSanders announces endorsement from Don Riegle, former senator from Michigan. pic.twitter.com/XTJ7Iydnga | Ahead of the debate in Flint, @BernieSanders announces endorsement from Don Riegle, former senator from Michigan. pic.twitter.com/XTJ7Iydnga |
Riegle was a three-term senator and five-term representative – and with John McCain and John Glenn accused of corruption in 1989. He’s also gone into lobbying, one of the great bugbears of Sanders’ campaign. But Sanders might be relying on the fact that many of his supporters were too young (or not around) to remember that episode on congressional history. | Riegle was a three-term senator and five-term representative – and with John McCain and John Glenn accused of corruption in 1989. He’s also gone into lobbying, one of the great bugbears of Sanders’ campaign. But Sanders might be relying on the fact that many of his supporters were too young (or not around) to remember that episode on congressional history. |
Updated | Updated |
at 12.07am GMT | at 12.07am GMT |
11.39pm GMT | 11.39pm GMT |
23:39 | 23:39 |
Nancy Reagan, the former first lady who profoundly influenced Ronald Reagan during his eight years in the White House, died on Sunday – casting a shadow across the many candidates in the race who invoke her husband’s name. | Nancy Reagan, the former first lady who profoundly influenced Ronald Reagan during his eight years in the White House, died on Sunday – casting a shadow across the many candidates in the race who invoke her husband’s name. |
Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are almost certainly going to remark on Reagan’s death, and have already praised her activism (sometimes in opposition to other Republicans) in matters of gun control and stem cell research. | Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are almost certainly going to remark on Reagan’s death, and have already praised her activism (sometimes in opposition to other Republicans) in matters of gun control and stem cell research. |
And though the 94-year-old kept quiet in recent years about what she thought of the modern Republican party, friends and family had reported that it wasn’t very much. Mitt Romney, the party’s nominee in 2012, channeled her spirit in a speech earlier this week to denounce frontrunner Donald Trump and some of the rebellious factions in the conservative movement. “With the passing of Nancy Reagan, we say a final goodbye to the days of Ronald Reagan,” he said earlier today. | And though the 94-year-old kept quiet in recent years about what she thought of the modern Republican party, friends and family had reported that it wasn’t very much. Mitt Romney, the party’s nominee in 2012, channeled her spirit in a speech earlier this week to denounce frontrunner Donald Trump and some of the rebellious factions in the conservative movement. “With the passing of Nancy Reagan, we say a final goodbye to the days of Ronald Reagan,” he said earlier today. |
Trump usually cites Reagan as part of his argument that a registered Democrat, like him, can transform into a beloved, “somewhat conservative” president. He tweeted on Sunday: “Nancy Reagan, the wife of a truly great president, was an amazing woman. She will be missed!” | Trump usually cites Reagan as part of his argument that a registered Democrat, like him, can transform into a beloved, “somewhat conservative” president. He tweeted on Sunday: “Nancy Reagan, the wife of a truly great president, was an amazing woman. She will be missed!” |
Related: US leaders pay tribute to Nancy Reagan's 'proud example' as first lady | Related: US leaders pay tribute to Nancy Reagan's 'proud example' as first lady |
Reagan’s biographer Bob Colacello wrote an appreciation for the former first lady as well, which you can read here. | Reagan’s biographer Bob Colacello wrote an appreciation for the former first lady as well, which you can read here. |
11.06pm GMT | 11.06pm GMT |
23:06 | 23:06 |
Clinton and Sanders face off in Flint | Clinton and Sanders face off in Flint |
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Democrats’ Maine caucus results and the first debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders since Super Tuesday and Super Saturday doled out hundreds of delegates for each candidate. | Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Democrats’ Maine caucus results and the first debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders since Super Tuesday and Super Saturday doled out hundreds of delegates for each candidate. |
Eight of the 15 states that voted on those two days fell to Clinton, who won African Americans and older voters in landslide victories around the south. Seven states picked Sanders, but because delegates are distributed proportionally Clinton maintains a huge lead in the delegate count. Of 2,383 delegates needed to secure the nomination, Clinton has 1,121 and Sanders has 481. | Eight of the 15 states that voted on those two days fell to Clinton, who won African Americans and older voters in landslide victories around the south. Seven states picked Sanders, but because delegates are distributed proportionally Clinton maintains a huge lead in the delegate count. Of 2,383 delegates needed to secure the nomination, Clinton has 1,121 and Sanders has 481. |
Today Puerto Rico delivered a second victory to Marco Rubio, who won by enough of a margin to sweep the territory’s 23 delegates. Rubio has won only one state – Minnesota – since the election season began in early February, and with only 128 delegates trails frontrunner Donald Trump (382) and senator Ted Cruz (300) in the race to win 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the Republican nomination. | Today Puerto Rico delivered a second victory to Marco Rubio, who won by enough of a margin to sweep the territory’s 23 delegates. Rubio has won only one state – Minnesota – since the election season began in early February, and with only 128 delegates trails frontrunner Donald Trump (382) and senator Ted Cruz (300) in the race to win 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the Republican nomination. |
Trump’s vitriolic rhetoric about torture, immigrants and his rivals – who have descended into the mud with him – will loom large over tonight’s Democratic debate, where Sanders and Clinton are likely to use broad strokes to contrast themselves with Republicans. | Trump’s vitriolic rhetoric about torture, immigrants and his rivals – who have descended into the mud with him – will loom large over tonight’s Democratic debate, where Sanders and Clinton are likely to use broad strokes to contrast themselves with Republicans. |
But the Democratic race has quietly grown desperate for Sanders, who faces long odds in the states ahead. | But the Democratic race has quietly grown desperate for Sanders, who faces long odds in the states ahead. |
He’ll likely try to draw sharper distinctions between himself and Clinton tonight: her history with big donors and Wall Street v his record-breaking small donations; her hawkish foreign policy in the Middle East v his reluctance to intervene; her “establishment” support (although he probably won’t mention her many endorsements from civil rights veterans) v his “political revolution” (although he may not talk about his struggle to turn out African Americans). | He’ll likely try to draw sharper distinctions between himself and Clinton tonight: her history with big donors and Wall Street v his record-breaking small donations; her hawkish foreign policy in the Middle East v his reluctance to intervene; her “establishment” support (although he probably won’t mention her many endorsements from civil rights veterans) v his “political revolution” (although he may not talk about his struggle to turn out African Americans). |
Above all of this will be the problems of the city where the two debate: Flint, Michigan, a city left with lead-tainted water, poisoned children, and nearly two years of neglect from the governor – a saga of poverty, race issues and official mismanagement that, my colleagues have found, extends well beyond the snowy shores of the Flint River. | Above all of this will be the problems of the city where the two debate: Flint, Michigan, a city left with lead-tainted water, poisoned children, and nearly two years of neglect from the governor – a saga of poverty, race issues and official mismanagement that, my colleagues have found, extends well beyond the snowy shores of the Flint River. |
The debate will be shown on CNN. Stay with us for live coverage from 8pm ET. | The debate will be shown on CNN. Stay with us for live coverage from 8pm ET. |
Related: Water utilities serving American cities use tests that downplay contamination | Related: Water utilities serving American cities use tests that downplay contamination |
Updated | Updated |
at 12.31am GMT | at 12.31am GMT |