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| Democratic debate: Clinton, Sanders clash on gun control, crime law | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Sen. Bernie Sanders said at Thursday night’s Democratic debate that his opponent, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, had used a “racist term” when she spoke of criminal “super-predators” in the 1990s, during the push for higher jail sentences. | |
| “It was a racist term, and everybody knew it was a racist term,” Sanders said. | |
| Earlier, Clinton had apologized for the “unintended” consequences of that push for tougher sentences, which has been blamed for an increase in the incarceration of African Americans. | |
| “I’m sorry for the consequences that are unintended, and have had a very unfortunate impact on people’s lives. I’ve seen the results,” Clinton said. “I want to focus the attention of our country, and to make the changes we need to make. I want white people to recognize that there is systemic racism. It’s also in employment, it’s in housing, but it is in the criminal justice system.” | |
| In the run-up to the New York primary, both Democratic candidates have focused on issues important to black voters and urban Democrats. Earlier in the debate, Clinton had blasted Sanders – again – for being too friendly to gun manufacturers and the gun lobby, taking control of the debate in its second half-hour. | |
| [The latest on the New York primary] | |
| At one point, Sanders laughed at a mention of an attack line from Clinton, which is that Vermont is the largest per-capita source of guns used in crimes in New York. The actual number of guns traced to Vermont is relatively small, but the state’s small population makes the per-capita number high. Sanders seemed to be chuckling at the argument, but Clinton interjected. | |
| “It’s not a laughing matter,” she said, dodging the question about whether the per-capita statistic had been fair. “I take it really serious. Because I have spent more time than I care remember being with people who have lost loved ones” to gun violence. | |
| Sandres struggled, again, to explain how his views on guns had been shaped by the fact that he represented a state with a large percentage of gun owners and a low rate of gun crime. | |
| “What we need to do is to do everything we can to make sure that guns do not fall into the hands of people who do not have them,” Sanders said at last. | |
| Earlier, the two candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination had a sustained argument about the national minimum wage, which indicated how Sanders has changed the terms of their race. When Clinton advocated raising the wage by 67 percent, she was booed for not going far enough. | |
| “We will set a national level of $12 [per hour] and then urge anybody who wants to go above it, to go above it,” Clinton said, defending herself from boos from supporters of Sanders, who has called for a $15-per-hour national wage. “I want to get something done, and I think setting the goal to get to 12 is the way to go.” | |
| Sanders attacked her for not calling for a $15-per-hour wage, and the two argued so loudly that CNN moderator Wolf Blitzer had to intervene. “If you’re both screaming at each other, the viewers won’t be able to hear either of you,” Blitzer said. | |
| Earlier, Sanders pledged to release his full 2014 tax returns on Friday, which he said will make clear what he and his wife donated to charity, among other details. | |
| Last year, Sanders released several pages of his tax returns, but not the specifics of his donations and other deductions. | |
| “We have very boring tax returns. No big money from speeches. No major investments. Unfortunately, I remain one of the poorer members of the United States Senate,” Sanders said. The details that Sanders released last year showed that the majority of his family’s $200,000 income came from his own salary as a senator. | |
| Blitzer asked Sanders if he would release prior years, but Sanders demurred for the moment. | |
| “Jane does ‘em,” Sanders said, meaning his wife Jane. He said that his wife had been busy on the campaign trail. “We will get ‘em out very shortly.” | |
| The debate turned sharply – and quickly – negative, as Clinton and Sanders attacked each other’s judgment in its first minutes. | |
| “I do question her judgment. I question her judgment, which voted for the war in Iraq, the worst foreign-policy blunder in the history of this country,” Sanders said in response to the first question from Blitzer. It was a repeat of language Sanders had used on the campaign trail, repeated now to Clinton’s face. “I don’t believe that that is the kind of judgment we need, to be the kind of president we need.” | |
| Clinton, in turn, repeated her own campaign-trail barb: that Sanders had showed himself unprepared for the job of president, by struggling to explain even his own policies. | Clinton, in turn, repeated her own campaign-trail barb: that Sanders had showed himself unprepared for the job of president, by struggling to explain even his own policies. |
| “Talk about judgment, and talk about the kinds of problems he had answering questions about even his core issues, breaking up the banks…He could not explain how that was to be done,” Clinton said, referring to a difficult interview Sanders had done with the New York Daily News editorial board. | “Talk about judgment, and talk about the kinds of problems he had answering questions about even his core issues, breaking up the banks…He could not explain how that was to be done,” Clinton said, referring to a difficult interview Sanders had done with the New York Daily News editorial board. |
| “I think you need to have the judgment on day one to be both president and commander in chief.” | “I think you need to have the judgment on day one to be both president and commander in chief.” |
| In the past, both Clinton and Sanders had tried to cast their race as a friendly competition between allies – arguing about tactics, but agreeing that either of them would be better at the job than a Republican. That era seems to be over. The two later jabbed each other about Clinton’s speeches to Wall Street firms, with Sanders intimating that she had grown too cozy with those firms, and Clinton saying there was no proof of that. “It’s always important to get your facts straight,” Clinton said. She talked, as she had before, about scolding Wall Street banks before the financial crisis. | In the past, both Clinton and Sanders had tried to cast their race as a friendly competition between allies – arguing about tactics, but agreeing that either of them would be better at the job than a Republican. That era seems to be over. The two later jabbed each other about Clinton’s speeches to Wall Street firms, with Sanders intimating that she had grown too cozy with those firms, and Clinton saying there was no proof of that. “It’s always important to get your facts straight,” Clinton said. She talked, as she had before, about scolding Wall Street banks before the financial crisis. |
| “Secretary Clinton called them out. Oh my goodness, they must have been really crushed by this. And was that before or after you received huge sums of money by speaking engagements,” Sanders said, mocking her. | “Secretary Clinton called them out. Oh my goodness, they must have been really crushed by this. And was that before or after you received huge sums of money by speaking engagements,” Sanders said, mocking her. |
| In the early going, Clinton was clearly better at one thing: playing to the home-state audience. She mentioned New York in her opening statement, and then returned to the subject a few minutes later, as a sly reference to the rough-and-tumble reputation of the borough she was in. Clinton said, with a sly tone in her voice, that she loved being in Brooklyn. | In the early going, Clinton was clearly better at one thing: playing to the home-state audience. She mentioned New York in her opening statement, and then returned to the subject a few minutes later, as a sly reference to the rough-and-tumble reputation of the borough she was in. Clinton said, with a sly tone in her voice, that she loved being in Brooklyn. |
| The debate — the fifth one-on-one meeting between Sanders and Clinton -- comes at a bitter time in the Democratic race: Clinton has taken a commanding lead in the battle for convention delegates, but Sanders has won a string of state contests, and has begun criticizing the front-runner in ever-stronger terms. | The debate — the fifth one-on-one meeting between Sanders and Clinton -- comes at a bitter time in the Democratic race: Clinton has taken a commanding lead in the battle for convention delegates, but Sanders has won a string of state contests, and has begun criticizing the front-runner in ever-stronger terms. |
| Earlier Thursday evening, the Sanders campaign suspended its newly hired coordinator for Jewish outreach, after reports that she had criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Facebook. | Earlier Thursday evening, the Sanders campaign suspended its newly hired coordinator for Jewish outreach, after reports that she had criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Facebook. |
| The suspension of Simone Zimmerman, hired just two days before, was first reported by the New York Times. The cause of the suspension was a report in the Washington Free Beacon, which had found postings in which Zimmerman called Netanyahu “arrogant, deceptive, cynical, manipulative,” and used a vulgarity to refer to him. | The suspension of Simone Zimmerman, hired just two days before, was first reported by the New York Times. The cause of the suspension was a report in the Washington Free Beacon, which had found postings in which Zimmerman called Netanyahu “arrogant, deceptive, cynical, manipulative,” and used a vulgarity to refer to him. |
| “She is suspended while we take a look at this internally,” said Symone Sanders, a campaign spokeswoman, told The Washington Post Thursday evening. | “She is suspended while we take a look at this internally,” said Symone Sanders, a campaign spokeswoman, told The Washington Post Thursday evening. |
| On Thursday, new polls highlighted the state of the race — in which Clinton has accumulated a commanding lead in delegates, while still failing to build the kind of enthusiasm that usually swells behind the front-runner. | On Thursday, new polls highlighted the state of the race — in which Clinton has accumulated a commanding lead in delegates, while still failing to build the kind of enthusiasm that usually swells behind the front-runner. |
| In fact, as Sanders has railed against Clinton’s ties to Wall Street, and criticized her cautious, incremental approach to governing, she has become less popular, even while she wins. | In fact, as Sanders has railed against Clinton’s ties to Wall Street, and criticized her cautious, incremental approach to governing, she has become less popular, even while she wins. |
| A Gallup poll released Thursday showed that, while 66 percent of Democrats viewed her favorably, 30 percent did not. The gap between those two numbers, which Gallup calls Clinton’s “net favorability,” was smaller than it had been at any time since last July. When the race began, Clinton’s net favorability was 63 percent. | A Gallup poll released Thursday showed that, while 66 percent of Democrats viewed her favorably, 30 percent did not. The gap between those two numbers, which Gallup calls Clinton’s “net favorability,” was smaller than it had been at any time since last July. When the race began, Clinton’s net favorability was 63 percent. |
| But the only race Clinton needs to win now is the one for Democratic delegates. In that race, she is leading, and poised to increase her lead in the New York primary: a new NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist College poll showed her with a 17-point advantage over Sanders in the state. | But the only race Clinton needs to win now is the one for Democratic delegates. In that race, she is leading, and poised to increase her lead in the New York primary: a new NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist College poll showed her with a 17-point advantage over Sanders in the state. |
| In the days leading up to the debate, Sanders has been unusually critical of the front-runner, questioning whether she was truly qualified to be president. Sanders cited Clinton’s acceptance of Wall Street money, her past support of big trade deals, and her vote in favor of the Iraq War as evidence of her poor judgment. Sanders later backed off that comment, saying that “of course” Clinton was qualified. | In the days leading up to the debate, Sanders has been unusually critical of the front-runner, questioning whether she was truly qualified to be president. Sanders cited Clinton’s acceptance of Wall Street money, her past support of big trade deals, and her vote in favor of the Iraq War as evidence of her poor judgment. Sanders later backed off that comment, saying that “of course” Clinton was qualified. |
| On Thursday, the Vermont senator condemned remarks by a warm-up speaker at a huge Sanders rally in Manhattan the day before. Paul Song, the executive chairman of the progressive Courage Campaign, had labeled establishment Democrats in Congress as “corporate Democratic whores,” who ought to be defeated and replaced by “Berniecrats.” | On Thursday, the Vermont senator condemned remarks by a warm-up speaker at a huge Sanders rally in Manhattan the day before. Paul Song, the executive chairman of the progressive Courage Campaign, had labeled establishment Democrats in Congress as “corporate Democratic whores,” who ought to be defeated and replaced by “Berniecrats.” |
| “There’s no room for language like that in our political discourse,” Sanders wrote on Twitter. | “There’s no room for language like that in our political discourse,” Sanders wrote on Twitter. |
| Sanders has won seven of the last eight state contests in this race. But because those states were small — and because Democrats split their delegates proportionally — he remains behind Clinton in the race for “pledged” convention delegates. Clinton now has 220 more of those delegates than Sanders. | Sanders has won seven of the last eight state contests in this race. But because those states were small — and because Democrats split their delegates proportionally — he remains behind Clinton in the race for “pledged” convention delegates. Clinton now has 220 more of those delegates than Sanders. |
| Clinton’s lead is even wider if “superdelegates” are included. They are the Democratic VIPS who come to the convention with the ability to make up their own minds. She is estimated to lead Sanders among that group by more than 400. | Clinton’s lead is even wider if “superdelegates” are included. They are the Democratic VIPS who come to the convention with the ability to make up their own minds. She is estimated to lead Sanders among that group by more than 400. |
| New York will be a key test for both: with 291 delegates at stake, it is the biggest prize of the Democratic race so far. | New York will be a key test for both: with 291 delegates at stake, it is the biggest prize of the Democratic race so far. |
| Both candidates can claim the state as home turf. | Both candidates can claim the state as home turf. |
| Sanders was born in Brooklyn, and — even after years in northern New England — has an accent straight from the Ebbets Field bleachers. Clinton, an Illinois native, represented New York for eight years as a senator and put her presidential campaign headquarters in Brooklyn, which, having been reinvented several times since Sanders’s childhood, is now the epicenter of New York (and possibly global) millennial cool. | Sanders was born in Brooklyn, and — even after years in northern New England — has an accent straight from the Ebbets Field bleachers. Clinton, an Illinois native, represented New York for eight years as a senator and put her presidential campaign headquarters in Brooklyn, which, having been reinvented several times since Sanders’s childhood, is now the epicenter of New York (and possibly global) millennial cool. |
| Clinton has led consistently in polls of New York Democrats, but in recent weeks Sanders seems to have cut into her lead. In late March, some polls had her 30 points ahead in New York. More recently, her lead has hovered between 10 and 13 points. There are 291 delegates at stake in New York, the largest total of any state in the Democratic race so far. | Clinton has led consistently in polls of New York Democrats, but in recent weeks Sanders seems to have cut into her lead. In late March, some polls had her 30 points ahead in New York. More recently, her lead has hovered between 10 and 13 points. There are 291 delegates at stake in New York, the largest total of any state in the Democratic race so far. |
| In Thursday’s debate, the two candidates are likely to be asked about a spat from earlier this month, when Sanders charged that Clinton — a former first lady, as well as senator and secretary of state — was not qualified to be president. | In Thursday’s debate, the two candidates are likely to be asked about a spat from earlier this month, when Sanders charged that Clinton — a former first lady, as well as senator and secretary of state — was not qualified to be president. |
| “She has been saying lately that she thinks I am quote-unquote not qualified to be president,” Sanders said. “Let me just say in response to Secretary Clinton, I don’t believe that she is qualified if she is through her super PAC taking tens of millions of dollars in special-interest money. I don’t think you are qualified if you get $15 million through Wall Street for your super PAC.” | “She has been saying lately that she thinks I am quote-unquote not qualified to be president,” Sanders said. “Let me just say in response to Secretary Clinton, I don’t believe that she is qualified if she is through her super PAC taking tens of millions of dollars in special-interest money. I don’t think you are qualified if you get $15 million through Wall Street for your super PAC.” |
| Sanders said he was reacting to the Clinton campaign’s own attacks on him. He later seemed to tone down that attack: asked in a TV interview whether Clinton was qualified to serve, Sanders said, “Of course.” But Sanders has continued to make a version of the same argument, saying that — while Clinton does have strong experience — her judgment should be questioned because of her acceptance of Wall Street money, her initial support for the Iraq War and her past backing of international trade agreements. | Sanders said he was reacting to the Clinton campaign’s own attacks on him. He later seemed to tone down that attack: asked in a TV interview whether Clinton was qualified to serve, Sanders said, “Of course.” But Sanders has continued to make a version of the same argument, saying that — while Clinton does have strong experience — her judgment should be questioned because of her acceptance of Wall Street money, her initial support for the Iraq War and her past backing of international trade agreements. |
| “In many respects, she may have the experience to be president of the United States,” Sanders said during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “No one can argue that. But in terms of her judgment, something is clearly lacking.” | “In many respects, she may have the experience to be president of the United States,” Sanders said during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “No one can argue that. But in terms of her judgment, something is clearly lacking.” |
| [Pope Francis has no plans to meet Sanders at the Vatican] | [Pope Francis has no plans to meet Sanders at the Vatican] |
| Clinton has continued to cast Sanders as an idealist whose signature policies — including government-paid college tuition and government-run universal health insurance — would be legislatively and logistically unworkable. In recent days, she has focused on a difficult interview that Sanders had with the New York Daily News editorial board, in which Sanders struggled with questions about his own plan to “break up” big banks. | Clinton has continued to cast Sanders as an idealist whose signature policies — including government-paid college tuition and government-run universal health insurance — would be legislatively and logistically unworkable. In recent days, she has focused on a difficult interview that Sanders had with the New York Daily News editorial board, in which Sanders struggled with questions about his own plan to “break up” big banks. |
| “Like a lot of people, I am concerned that some of his ideas just won’t work, because the numbers don’t add up,” she told an audience in neighboring Pennsylvania earlier this month. | “Like a lot of people, I am concerned that some of his ideas just won’t work, because the numbers don’t add up,” she told an audience in neighboring Pennsylvania earlier this month. |
| “Others won’t even pass Congress, or they rely on Republican governors suddenly having a conversion experience and becoming progressives,” Clinton said, as the audience laughed. “In a number of important areas, he doesn’t have a plan at all.” | “Others won’t even pass Congress, or they rely on Republican governors suddenly having a conversion experience and becoming progressives,” Clinton said, as the audience laughed. “In a number of important areas, he doesn’t have a plan at all.” |
| Clinton could also return to a familiar line of attack against Sanders: that he has been too supportive of gun rights legislation. That argument has special resonance in New York City. Clinton has argued that Sanders, representing a mostly white, mostly rural state, has been slow to recognize the damage guns do in cities. | Clinton could also return to a familiar line of attack against Sanders: that he has been too supportive of gun rights legislation. That argument has special resonance in New York City. Clinton has argued that Sanders, representing a mostly white, mostly rural state, has been slow to recognize the damage guns do in cities. |
| “Here’s what I want you to know: Most of the guns that are used in crimes and violence and killings in New York come from out of state. The state that has the highest per-capita number of those guns that end up committing crime in New York come from Vermont,” Clinton told an audience in Long Island recently. “So this is not, ‘Oh, no, I live in a rural state. We don’t have any of these problems.’ ” | “Here’s what I want you to know: Most of the guns that are used in crimes and violence and killings in New York come from out of state. The state that has the highest per-capita number of those guns that end up committing crime in New York come from Vermont,” Clinton told an audience in Long Island recently. “So this is not, ‘Oh, no, I live in a rural state. We don’t have any of these problems.’ ” |
| Many more guns recovered in New York originate from other states, according to a 2014 study by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. But because of Vermont’s relatively small population, the state ranks highest on a per-capita list. | Many more guns recovered in New York originate from other states, according to a 2014 study by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. But because of Vermont’s relatively small population, the state ranks highest on a per-capita list. |
| [Sanders holds massive rally in Manhattan ] | [Sanders holds massive rally in Manhattan ] |
| After the New York primary, the next contests will be held on April 26 in five Eastern states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. | After the New York primary, the next contests will be held on April 26 in five Eastern states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. |
| Wagner reported from New York. | Wagner reported from New York. |