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Democratic debates: Ten candidates over healthcare and immigration Democratic debates: Ten candidates over healthcare and immigration
(about 1 hour later)
Ten Democratic presidential hopefuls have clashed in a televised debate that laid bare the way the party is battling over how best to win in 2020. Ten Democratic presidential hopefuls have clashed in a televised US debate that laid bare the party's deep divisions over how best to win in 2020.
Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, the most liberal candidates in the crowded field, were under attack from their more moderate colleagues.Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, the most liberal candidates in the crowded field, were under attack from their more moderate colleagues.
The group of candidates battled over healthcare policies, immigration, and how to defeat President Donald Trump. The three women and seven men on stage in Michigan debated healthcare, border policy and how to defeat Donald Trump.
Ten more Democrats, including Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, will spar tomorrow. Ten more Democrats, including Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, will spar Wednesday.
The winner of the Democratic presidential nomination will be crowned next July at the party convention. The presidential election will take place months later, in November.The winner of the Democratic presidential nomination will be crowned next July at the party convention. The presidential election will take place months later, in November.
Several candidates began their opening statements by criticising progressive policies as being impossible and not the way for the party to defeat President Trump. Several candidates began the debate in Detroit by criticising the policies of Ms Warren and Mr Sanders as being impossible and not the way for the party to defeat President Trump.
John Delaney, a former Maryland congressman, said: "We cannot go down the road that Senator Sanders and Senator Warren want to take us with bad policies like Medicare for All, free everything and impossible promises that will turn off independent voters." Who was on stage?
During her opening statement, Ms Warren said "anyone on this stage tonight or tomorrow night would be a far better president" and promised to work to "beat Donald Trump and elect a Democratic Congress" regardless of who wins the nomination. The line-up was chosen at random by CNN:
But she added, "small ideas and spinelessness" would not solve America's problems. What was the key flashpoint?
Mr Sanders focused much of his opening statement on his big issue of healthcare, saying "healthcare is a human right, not a privilege, and I will fight for that". Healthcare, which has been an important issue for Democrats and was a focus during last year's mid-term elections, was a point of contention on Tuesday night.
Who's on stage? The first question posed to the candidates was whether Mr Sanders' plan for a single-payer health system, Medicare for All, would be "political suicide", but healthcare was a recurring topic throughout the debate.
The line-up for both debates was chosen at random by CNN. The candidates sparred over enacting Medicare for All versus expanding on President Barack Obama's signature policy, the Affordable Care Act, which extended health insurance coverage in 2010.
Here's Tuesday's line-up: Mr Ryan and Mr Delaney were among those who attacked Mr Sanders' plan, saying it would negatively impact on working-class Americans by taking away their employer-sponsored health benefits.
On Wednesday night, Former Vice-President Joe Biden, California Senator Kamala Harris, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Washington Governor Jay Inslee and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, Former tech executive Andrew Yang will have their chance. Mr Sanders focused on how millions of Americans remain underinsured or uninsured while the health industry makes billions in profits.
How did they clash over healthcare? Ms Warren sought to refocus the matter slightly, saying that no Democrat is "trying to take away healthcare from anyone", and that Democrats "should stop using Republican talking points" to discuss with each other.
The first question posed to the candidates was: Do you believe Medicare for All, Mr Sanders' plan for a single-payer health system, is "political suicide"? What were the other clashes?
Mr Delaney said many Americans are happy with their private insurance through employers and should be allowed to keep that coverage, saying that giving people the choice is "the American way". The 10 candidates on stage also differed on how to handle the crisis at the US-Mexico border.
Mr Sanders responded by saying millions are uninsured and underinsured while the industry makes billions in profits. Mr Buttigieg and Mr O'Rourke - who is from the Texas border region - offered policies to change the existing systems, but said crossings would remain illegal.
Ms Warren sought to refocus the matter slightly, saying that no Democrat is "trying to take away healthcare from anyone". But the more liberal lawmakers, Ms Warren and Mr Sanders, both emphasised that families arriving at the border should not be criminalised.
"That's what the Republicans are trying to do. And we should stop using Republican talking points in order to talk with each other."
The candidates sparred over Medicare for All versus expanding on President Barack Obama's signature policy, the Affordable Care Act, which extended health insurance coverage.
Mr Ryan and Mr Delaney were among those who attacked Mr Sanders' plan, saying it would negatively impact working-class Americans by taking away their employer-sponsored benefits.
And what did they say about immigration?
The candidates were then asked for their views on decriminalising illegal border crossings.
Mr Buttigieg said these crossings would still be illegal if he won the presidency, but that most cases would be handled under civil law.
Mr O'Rourke, who is from the Texas border region, said he would waive citizenship fees, fix deportation laws, and assist countries in Central America so that no family has to trek to the US border, but that when people do arrive, they should follow US laws.
Ms Warren and Mr Sanders both emphasised that families arriving at the border should not be criminalised.
"I've seen the mothers, I've seen the cages of babies," Ms Warren said. "We must be a country that every day lives our values and that means we cannot make it a crime when someone comes in.""I've seen the mothers, I've seen the cages of babies," Ms Warren said. "We must be a country that every day lives our values and that means we cannot make it a crime when someone comes in."
Mr Ryan said Mr Sanders' proposals would only incentivise people to enter the country illegally. Mr Ryan contended that such proposals would only incentivise people to enter the country illegally.
What about the gun violence debate? The candidates also tackled issues of race, with Mr O'Rourke and Ms Williamson calling for reparations - a repayment to black citizens for slavery.
Many of the candidates emphasised taking on the pro-gun lobby group, the National Rifle Association (NRA). Others, like Ms Klobuchar, proposed policies that would benefit all Americans, like better education and wages for teachers.
Mr Buttigieg, the youngest of the 2020 candidates, said it was a debate that has been going on for generations. The 10 hopefuls largely agreed when it came to gun violence, dark money in politics and the need to address climate change.
But there was a wider need for reform, he said, like de-politicising the Supreme Court. Who stood out?
Ms Klobuchar and Mr Bullock - who is a gun-owner and hunter - both blamed the NRA. Ms Klobuchar said she watched Mr Trump discuss universal background checks for purchasing guns after the Parkland school shooting, only to "fold" after meeting with NRA lobbyists. Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America reporter
The candidates all agreed getting corporate money out of politics was key to addressing gun violence. The first Democratic debate felt a little bit like a gang fight, with the candidates breaking into two distinct groups - the moderates and the progressives.
Ms Williamson then called for public funding for federal campaigns and a constitutional amendment to address big money interests in politics. Given that the two progressives, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, also happen to be two of the candidates near the top of the polls, this dynamic ended up helping elevate some of the moderate candidates. Up until now, they've effectively been crowded out by Joe Biden, the king of the moderates.
What did they say about the party being 'too radical'? He won't take the stage until tomorrow night, so it was up to candidates like Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan, Montana Governor Steve Bullock and former Maryland Congressman John Delaney to hold up their end of the fight.
After a back-and-forth with Mr Delaney, Ms Warren drew big applause for saying candidates should not focus on all the things they cannot do. That can only be good news for those candidates, who got plenty of airtime defend and expound upon their views. Will it help any of them rise in the polls? Perhaps if Biden falters again on Wednesday. If not, then the vice-president may be the ultimate beneficiary of Tuesday evening's proceedings.
But Ms Klobuchar later said Democrats had to be "straightforward with the American people" and that policies like a single-payer system or free college for all would not succeed. Sanders and Warren will also be pleased with their performance. Both held up under fire - and had a chance to demonstrate they could give as well as they get.
"What I don't like about this argument now is we are more worried about winning an argument than winning an election," she said. Of the two , Warren probably will be happiest, because she's pulling ahead of Sanders in recent polls and nothing on Tuesday seemed to shake up that dynamic.
Others, like Amy Klobuchar, Beto O'Rourke, John Hickenlooper, Marianne Williamson and even Pete Buttigieg, frequently disappeared into the background. As is frequently the case with debates like these, the quieter voices tend to get lost in the din.
Moderates v liberals
Tuesday's debate highlighted the divide between the Democratic party's moderate and liberal sides over what policies would appeal to voters and help unseat President Trump.
Many focused on their own track records in typically Republican districts or states, like Ms Klobuchar in Minnesota and Mr Bullock in Montana.
While some had anticipated Mr Sanders and Ms Warren - who has been surging in the polls - would battle each other, the two seemed to be united by circumstance as they both came under attack.
Mr Bullock, Mr Ryan and Mr Delaney most frequently sparred with Ms Warren and Mr Sanders over their policies.
Mr Delaney was the first to mention the two senators by name, calling out their "free everything" policies as "impossible promises that will turn off independent voters".
After one back-and-forth with Mr Delaney, Ms Warren drew big applause for saying candidates should not focus on all the things they cannot do.
Ms Klobuchar meanwhile said Democrats should be straightforward, and that "we are more worried about winning an argument than winning an election".
What's next?
On Wednesday night, the debates continue with 10 more Democrats taking the stage.
Former Vice-President Joe Biden, California Senator Kamala Harris, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Washington Governor Jay Inslee and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, Former tech executive Andrew Yang will have their chance to win over voters.
Who will take on Trump in 2020?Who will take on Trump in 2020?
Twenty Democrats are debating once more to win the chance to take on Donald Trump. But who else has a shot at becoming the next president?Twenty Democrats are debating once more to win the chance to take on Donald Trump. But who else has a shot at becoming the next president?
Find out who is already running and who might join them.