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| Sanders and Clinton battle it out at Democratic debate – as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.05am GMT | 5.05am GMT |
| 05:05 | 05:05 |
| Christopher R Barron | Christopher R Barron |
| The Fox News special with Republican candidates is over. Marco Rubio got the very last slot, which doesn’t bode well, writes Christopher Barron. | The Fox News special with Republican candidates is over. Marco Rubio got the very last slot, which doesn’t bode well, writes Christopher Barron. |
| Marco Rubio gets the Fox News graveyard shift in tonight’s lineup - apropos considering the death spiral that his campaign appears to be in. | Marco Rubio gets the Fox News graveyard shift in tonight’s lineup - apropos considering the death spiral that his campaign appears to be in. |
| For a guy who desperately needs to change the narrative, Megyn Kelly’s opening questioning had to be a gut punch - are you preparing to drop out? Rubio strongly disputed the reports that he is considering dropping out and, in spite of polls that show him far behind, Rubio said he is confident he will win in Florida. | For a guy who desperately needs to change the narrative, Megyn Kelly’s opening questioning had to be a gut punch - are you preparing to drop out? Rubio strongly disputed the reports that he is considering dropping out and, in spite of polls that show him far behind, Rubio said he is confident he will win in Florida. |
| Rubio pivoted dramatically in the way he attacked Trump tonight. Gone were the small hands and pants-wetting jokes. Rubio admitted he regretted those personal attacks. Instead, Rubio said he understood the anger that is driving Trump voters but that Trump the candidate simply lacks any policy prescriptions. | Rubio pivoted dramatically in the way he attacked Trump tonight. Gone were the small hands and pants-wetting jokes. Rubio admitted he regretted those personal attacks. Instead, Rubio said he understood the anger that is driving Trump voters but that Trump the candidate simply lacks any policy prescriptions. |
| When it comes to policy, particularly foreign policy, Rubio is in his element. Rubio even ably and deftly answered questions about his previous support for comprehensive immigration reform - something that has dogged his campaign from the very beginning. | When it comes to policy, particularly foreign policy, Rubio is in his element. Rubio even ably and deftly answered questions about his previous support for comprehensive immigration reform - something that has dogged his campaign from the very beginning. |
| Rubio had a solid performance tonight, but solid isn’t what he needs right now. If he is going to get his campaign back on track, he needs something much more - and frankly he is running out of time. | Rubio had a solid performance tonight, but solid isn’t what he needs right now. If he is going to get his campaign back on track, he needs something much more - and frankly he is running out of time. |
| 4.17am GMT | 4.17am GMT |
| 04:17 | 04:17 |
| Christopher R Barron | Christopher R Barron |
| Back to the Republicans, now. Chris Barron watched Donald Trump’s rally and found he is working hard to appear presidential – and enjoying himself along the way. | Back to the Republicans, now. Chris Barron watched Donald Trump’s rally and found he is working hard to appear presidential – and enjoying himself along the way. |
| With the Kasich and Cruz opening acts done with their sets, Donald Trump - the bombastic frontrunner - took the main stage at a Fayetteville, North Carolina rally hosted by Sean Hannity. | With the Kasich and Cruz opening acts done with their sets, Donald Trump - the bombastic frontrunner - took the main stage at a Fayetteville, North Carolina rally hosted by Sean Hannity. |
| The theatrics of the Trump event were a stark contrast to the Cruz event in the hour before. Trump, whatever else you may think of him, is a master showman and the Hollywood production value of his rally made the Cruz hour look like public access television. | The theatrics of the Trump event were a stark contrast to the Cruz event in the hour before. Trump, whatever else you may think of him, is a master showman and the Hollywood production value of his rally made the Cruz hour look like public access television. |
| Trump came across as the confident front-runner and, frankly, he seems like is having fun running for president (something that few politicians ever seem to really enjoy). | Trump came across as the confident front-runner and, frankly, he seems like is having fun running for president (something that few politicians ever seem to really enjoy). |
| As for policy, Trump didn’t surprise, which means he offered almost no specifics. He will build a wall - Mexico will pay for it. He will balance the budget, without cutting entitlements or cutting military spending. He will bring jobs back from China and Mexico and Japan without telling us how this will happen. | As for policy, Trump didn’t surprise, which means he offered almost no specifics. He will build a wall - Mexico will pay for it. He will balance the budget, without cutting entitlements or cutting military spending. He will bring jobs back from China and Mexico and Japan without telling us how this will happen. |
| What I found most surprising at the Trump performance tonight was how restrained he was - at least by Trump standards. Instead of playing the part of provocateur, Trump was playing the role of president. He basically acknowledged he was playing a role, telling Hannity and the crowd that he could “be the most presidential person ever.” | What I found most surprising at the Trump performance tonight was how restrained he was - at least by Trump standards. Instead of playing the part of provocateur, Trump was playing the role of president. He basically acknowledged he was playing a role, telling Hannity and the crowd that he could “be the most presidential person ever.” |
| In the past, Trump has used his rally to beat up on his primary opponents. Tonight, however, Trump continued his pivot from the primary to the general election. Instead of hitting Rubio or Cruz, he made the case that he was the candidate who could and would beat Hillary - going as far as to take credit for Bernie Sander’s rise in the Democratic polls. | In the past, Trump has used his rally to beat up on his primary opponents. Tonight, however, Trump continued his pivot from the primary to the general election. Instead of hitting Rubio or Cruz, he made the case that he was the candidate who could and would beat Hillary - going as far as to take credit for Bernie Sander’s rise in the Democratic polls. |
| If Trump is feeling the heat from the supposed Cruz surge, he certainly isn’t acting like it. | If Trump is feeling the heat from the supposed Cruz surge, he certainly isn’t acting like it. |
| 4.03am GMT | 4.03am GMT |
| 04:03 | 04:03 |
| The Democratic presidential debate, as it happened | The Democratic presidential debate, as it happened |
| Scott Bixby | Scott Bixby |
| In a ground-breaking debate that heavily featured questions asked by native Spanish speakers and covered issues relating to immigration, college cost and America’s relationship with Central America, there were a few key moments that stuck out: | In a ground-breaking debate that heavily featured questions asked by native Spanish speakers and covered issues relating to immigration, college cost and America’s relationship with Central America, there were a few key moments that stuck out: |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.19am GMT | at 4.19am GMT |
| 3.46am GMT | 3.46am GMT |
| 03:46 | 03:46 |
| After playing a 1985 tape of Bernie Sanders praising Fidel Castro, host Maria Elena Salinas asks Sanders how is his form of socialism is different from that of Cuba, Venezuela and Honduras. | After playing a 1985 tape of Bernie Sanders praising Fidel Castro, host Maria Elena Salinas asks Sanders how is his form of socialism is different from that of Cuba, Venezuela and Honduras. |
| Sanders launches it into an attack on the Monroe Doctrine, saying that he opposed the Reagan administration’s effort to overthrow the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. | Sanders launches it into an attack on the Monroe Doctrine, saying that he opposed the Reagan administration’s effort to overthrow the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. |
| “I think we have got to end the embargo,” Sanders says. “I believe that we should move toward full and normalized political relations with Cuba. I think at the end of the day it will be a good thing for the Cuban people.” Opening up diplomatic relations with Cuba “will result in significant improvements for the lives of Cubans,” Sanders says. | “I think we have got to end the embargo,” Sanders says. “I believe that we should move toward full and normalized political relations with Cuba. I think at the end of the day it will be a good thing for the Cuban people.” Opening up diplomatic relations with Cuba “will result in significant improvements for the lives of Cubans,” Sanders says. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.49am GMT | at 3.49am GMT |
| 3.34am GMT | 3.34am GMT |
| 03:34 | 03:34 |
| Bernie Sanders, on revolution: | Bernie Sanders, on revolution: |
| I’m the candidate who says no president, not Bernie Sanders, can do it all. You know what we need? We need a political revolution in this country. | I’m the candidate who says no president, not Bernie Sanders, can do it all. You know what we need? We need a political revolution in this country. |
| 3.22am GMT | 3.22am GMT |
| 03:22 | 03:22 |
| “We’re going to refinance everyone’s existing student debt - 40 million Americans have student debt,” Clinton says to a young women with student-loan debt who wants to go to graduate school. | “We’re going to refinance everyone’s existing student debt - 40 million Americans have student debt,” Clinton says to a young women with student-loan debt who wants to go to graduate school. |
| “The interest rates literally go from 8 to 14% - it’s outrageous,” Clinton says. “You can refinance your house to get a lower interest rate, you can refinance your car, corporations can refinance their debt, and under my plan... you can refinance your student-loan debt.” | “The interest rates literally go from 8 to 14% - it’s outrageous,” Clinton says. “You can refinance your house to get a lower interest rate, you can refinance your car, corporations can refinance their debt, and under my plan... you can refinance your student-loan debt.” |
| “After a certain number of years, you no longer have to pay anything. The government has to quit making money off of lending money to young people to get their education,” Clinton says. | “After a certain number of years, you no longer have to pay anything. The government has to quit making money off of lending money to young people to get their education,” Clinton says. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.27am GMT | at 3.27am GMT |
| 3.18am GMT | 3.18am GMT |
| 03:18 | 03:18 |
| Bernie Sanders does a decent Donald Trump impression: | Bernie Sanders does a decent Donald Trump impression: |
| Let me answer that question, because it’s a huge one. Well, not a YUUUUGE one... | Let me answer that question, because it’s a huge one. Well, not a YUUUUGE one... |
| 3.14am GMT | 3.14am GMT |
| 03:14 | 03:14 |
| Dan Roberts | Dan Roberts |
| https://twitter.com/robertsdan/status/707765911244173312 | https://twitter.com/robertsdan/status/707765911244173312 |
| 3.09am GMT | 3.09am GMT |
| 03:09 | 03:09 |
| Christopher R Barron | Christopher R Barron |
| We turn back to the Republican town hall for a moment. Christopher Barron watched Ted Cruz’s performance in a mega-church. It was full of red meat for true believers, but don’t expect any new voters to “see the light”. | We turn back to the Republican town hall for a moment. Christopher Barron watched Ted Cruz’s performance in a mega-church. It was full of red meat for true believers, but don’t expect any new voters to “see the light”. |
| Act 2 in tonight’s Fox News Republican presidential primetime dog and pony show was Texas Senator Ted Cruz hosted by Megyn Kelly. Fittingly, the Cruz portion of the night took place in a mega-church in North Carolina. | Act 2 in tonight’s Fox News Republican presidential primetime dog and pony show was Texas Senator Ted Cruz hosted by Megyn Kelly. Fittingly, the Cruz portion of the night took place in a mega-church in North Carolina. |
| What Ted Cruz wants and needs is to unite the diverse anti-Trump vote. He needs to peel off moderate voters backing Kasich and conservatives and establishment types that are backing Rubio - and that’s exactly the pitch Cruz made early in the hour. | What Ted Cruz wants and needs is to unite the diverse anti-Trump vote. He needs to peel off moderate voters backing Kasich and conservatives and establishment types that are backing Rubio - and that’s exactly the pitch Cruz made early in the hour. |
| For me, a television viewer at home, Cruz’s North Carolina big tent revival was at best odd. His delivery and cadence, which often seem like a bizarre combination of a used car salesman and a televangelist, was particularly jarring. While Kasich held his town hall in front of largely undecided voters, Cruz held his event in front of Cruz true believers. The crowd, which cheered every word he said, reminded me more of a taping of Showtime at the Apollo than of a serious political event. | For me, a television viewer at home, Cruz’s North Carolina big tent revival was at best odd. His delivery and cadence, which often seem like a bizarre combination of a used car salesman and a televangelist, was particularly jarring. While Kasich held his town hall in front of largely undecided voters, Cruz held his event in front of Cruz true believers. The crowd, which cheered every word he said, reminded me more of a taping of Showtime at the Apollo than of a serious political event. |
| On policy, Cruz offered up lots of conservative red meat: investigating Planned Parenthood, busting up the Washington cartel, ending persecution of religious liberty on day 1, the end of common core, repealing Obamacare and abolishing the IRS. | On policy, Cruz offered up lots of conservative red meat: investigating Planned Parenthood, busting up the Washington cartel, ending persecution of religious liberty on day 1, the end of common core, repealing Obamacare and abolishing the IRS. |
| Interestingly enough, one of the only times the Cruz crowd didn’t cheer was when the candidate promised to raise the age of retirement for social security. | Interestingly enough, one of the only times the Cruz crowd didn’t cheer was when the candidate promised to raise the age of retirement for social security. |
| While saying he understood the anger of Trump voters, Cruz wasn’t shy about hammering Trump. He hit Trump for supporting Democrats in the past and, in particular, Cruz tried to undermine Trump on one of his strongest issues - immigration. | While saying he understood the anger of Trump voters, Cruz wasn’t shy about hammering Trump. He hit Trump for supporting Democrats in the past and, in particular, Cruz tried to undermine Trump on one of his strongest issues - immigration. |
| I don’t think Cruz’s performance tonight will hurt him with his base - but I question whether this performance will bring in new supporters. | I don’t think Cruz’s performance tonight will hurt him with his base - but I question whether this performance will bring in new supporters. |
| 3.05am GMT | 3.05am GMT |
| 03:05 | 03:05 |
| Scott Bixby | Scott Bixby |
| Jorge Ramos, nearly drowned out by boos, asks Hillary Clinton about Benghazi, asking if she lied to family members of the four Americans who were killed in a terrorist attack on the US consulate in Libya. | Jorge Ramos, nearly drowned out by boos, asks Hillary Clinton about Benghazi, asking if she lied to family members of the four Americans who were killed in a terrorist attack on the US consulate in Libya. |
| “I feel a great deal of sympathy for the families of the four brave Americans that we lost in Benghazi, and I certainly can’t even imagine the grief she has from losing her son. But she’s wrong. She’s absolutely wrong,” Clinton says. | “I feel a great deal of sympathy for the families of the four brave Americans that we lost in Benghazi, and I certainly can’t even imagine the grief she has from losing her son. But she’s wrong. She’s absolutely wrong,” Clinton says. |
| “We were scrambling to get information that was changing literally by the hour, and when we had information we made it public, but then sometimes we had to go back and say we had new information that contradicts it.” | “We were scrambling to get information that was changing literally by the hour, and when we had information we made it public, but then sometimes we had to go back and say we had new information that contradicts it.” |
| “I testified for eleven hours, anybody that watched that and listened to it know that I have answered that question.” | “I testified for eleven hours, anybody that watched that and listened to it know that I have answered that question.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.08am GMT | at 3.08am GMT |
| 2.55am GMT | 2.55am GMT |
| 02:55 | 02:55 |
| Hillary Clinton v Hillary Clinton: | Hillary Clinton v Hillary Clinton: |
| I am not a natural politician, as you may have noticed, like my husband or President Obama. So I have a view that I just have to do the best I can, get the results I can, make a difference in people’s lives. | I am not a natural politician, as you may have noticed, like my husband or President Obama. So I have a view that I just have to do the best I can, get the results I can, make a difference in people’s lives. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.58am GMT | at 2.58am GMT |
| 2.55am GMT | 2.55am GMT |
| 02:55 | 02:55 |
| Dan Roberts | Dan Roberts |
| The candidates' competing spin operations are off to a blistering pace tonight pic.twitter.com/XxYtvs7OTx | The candidates' competing spin operations are off to a blistering pace tonight pic.twitter.com/XxYtvs7OTx |
| 2.54am GMT | 2.54am GMT |
| 02:54 | 02:54 |
| Clinton: Woman asking question about divided family "is an incredible act of courage" | Clinton: Woman asking question about divided family "is an incredible act of courage" |
| Scott Bixby | Scott Bixby |
| A question from the audience for both candidates from a woman whose children and husband are on the other side of the border: What will you do to stop deportations - and to unite families torn apart by deportations? | A question from the audience for both candidates from a woman whose children and husband are on the other side of the border: What will you do to stop deportations - and to unite families torn apart by deportations? |
| “The idea that a mother is living here and her children are on the other side of the border is wrong,” Bernie Sanders says. “That is beyond comprehension and policies that should not be allowed to exist.” | “The idea that a mother is living here and her children are on the other side of the border is wrong,” Bernie Sanders says. “That is beyond comprehension and policies that should not be allowed to exist.” |
| Speaking to the woman who asked the question, Sanders says “I will do everything that I can to unite your family - your children deserve to be with their mother.” | Speaking to the woman who asked the question, Sanders says “I will do everything that I can to unite your family - your children deserve to be with their mother.” |
| Clinton speaks directly to the woman. “Please know how brave I think you are coming here, with your children, to tell your story. This is an incredible act of courage that I think not many people understand.” | Clinton speaks directly to the woman. “Please know how brave I think you are coming here, with your children, to tell your story. This is an incredible act of courage that I think not many people understand.” |
| “I have heard similar stories like yours, where your husband is deported, your children’s father is gone, you are doing your very best to support your children, but it is time to bring families together. I don’t think there’s any doubt that we must do more to let stories like yours be heard more widely, so that more Americans can know the human cost of these policies are.” | “I have heard similar stories like yours, where your husband is deported, your children’s father is gone, you are doing your very best to support your children, but it is time to bring families together. I don’t think there’s any doubt that we must do more to let stories like yours be heard more widely, so that more Americans can know the human cost of these policies are.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.58am GMT | at 2.58am GMT |
| 2.47am GMT | 2.47am GMT |
| 02:47 | 02:47 |
| Sabrina Siddiqui | Sabrina Siddiqui |
| Meanwhile, across town, the Guardian’s Sabrina Siddiqui is catching up with Marco Rubio: | Meanwhile, across town, the Guardian’s Sabrina Siddiqui is catching up with Marco Rubio: |
| Marco Rubio tonight shot down an emerging dream among conservatives looking to deprive Donald Trump of the nomination: A union between the Florida senator and rival Ted Cruz. | Marco Rubio tonight shot down an emerging dream among conservatives looking to deprive Donald Trump of the nomination: A union between the Florida senator and rival Ted Cruz. |
| In the wake of a series of dismal performances by Rubio in recent primary contests, a growing number of influential conservative commentators have called on the senator to drop out of the race and endorse Cruz. In exchange, the thinking goes, Rubio could be the Texas senator’s vice presidential pick and this unity ticket would be the only way to stop Trump. | In the wake of a series of dismal performances by Rubio in recent primary contests, a growing number of influential conservative commentators have called on the senator to drop out of the race and endorse Cruz. In exchange, the thinking goes, Rubio could be the Texas senator’s vice presidential pick and this unity ticket would be the only way to stop Trump. |
| But during a town hall with MSNBC, Rubio dismissed the proposal as “House of Cards stuff” - a reference to the popular political show around the inner workings of Washington. | But during a town hall with MSNBC, Rubio dismissed the proposal as “House of Cards stuff” - a reference to the popular political show around the inner workings of Washington. |
| “It looks good on TV. It doesn’t ever work that way,” Rubio said. “[The] bottom line is, this process is going to play itself out.” | “It looks good on TV. It doesn’t ever work that way,” Rubio said. “[The] bottom line is, this process is going to play itself out.” |
| Rubio also said at another point in the forum that he would “absolutely” turn down an offer to be Trump’s vice president. | Rubio also said at another point in the forum that he would “absolutely” turn down an offer to be Trump’s vice president. |
| 2.42am GMT | 2.42am GMT |
| 02:42 | 02:42 |
| Bernie Sanders, on immigration: | Bernie Sanders, on immigration: |
| Madam Secretary, I will match my record against yours any day of the week. | Madam Secretary, I will match my record against yours any day of the week. |
| 2.37am GMT | 2.37am GMT |
| 02:37 | 02:37 |
| Scott Bixby | Scott Bixby |
| Jorge Ramos grills Hillary Clinton on whether she would deport children, a point that she pushed back on in a previous town-hall interview with him. | Jorge Ramos grills Hillary Clinton on whether she would deport children, a point that she pushed back on in a previous town-hall interview with him. |
| “Can you promise tonight that you won’t deport children, and that you won’t deport immigrants without a criminal record?” | “Can you promise tonight that you won’t deport children, and that you won’t deport immigrants without a criminal record?” |
| “If you’re asking about everyone who’s already here, undocumented immigrants, 11-12 million who are already here... I do not have the same policy as the current administration does,” Clinton says. “I will not deport children - I will not deport children, I do not want to deport family members either, Jorge.” | “If you’re asking about everyone who’s already here, undocumented immigrants, 11-12 million who are already here... I do not have the same policy as the current administration does,” Clinton says. “I will not deport children - I will not deport children, I do not want to deport family members either, Jorge.” |
| Ramos, perhaps belaboring the point, pushes Clinton to give a simple yes-or-no answer to the question of whether she would have children deported. | Ramos, perhaps belaboring the point, pushes Clinton to give a simple yes-or-no answer to the question of whether she would have children deported. |
| “I will not.” | “I will not.” |
| 2.30am GMT | 2.30am GMT |
| 02:30 | 02:30 |
| The Guardian’s Dan Roberts, live from the debate venue, points out that the minutiae-picking aspect of the recent Democratic debates might be a function of the experience of the candidates: | The Guardian’s Dan Roberts, live from the debate venue, points out that the minutiae-picking aspect of the recent Democratic debates might be a function of the experience of the candidates: |
| When you have 2 candidates with nearly a century of experience between them, there's an awful lot of history to pick over for inconsistency. | When you have 2 candidates with nearly a century of experience between them, there's an awful lot of history to pick over for inconsistency. |