Democratic debate: Warren takes hits from all sides as Trump impeachment remains top focus
Democrats spar in the largest presidential primary debate in American history
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Your support makes all the difference.Twelve Democrats hoping to take on Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election took the stage tonight for the largest primary debate in American history -- just as the candidates are finally taking off their gloves.
The candidates who met the Democratic National Committee's polling and fundraising requirements to join Tuesday's night debate -- the first since an impeachment inquiry was launched into Mr Trump -- included former Vice President Joe Biden, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, California Senator Kamala Harris, entrepreneur Andrew Yang, former Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke, Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, former House Secretary Julián Castro and billionaire Tom Steyer.
Ms Warren repeatedly came under attack during the debate as rivals accused the Massachusetts senator of ducking questions about the cost of Medicare for All and her signature “wealth tax” plan.
The pile-on was the clearest sign yet that Ms Warren has a new status in the crowded Democratic primary: a front-runner in the contest to take on Mr Trump next year.
The night’s confrontations were mostly fought on familiar terrain for Democrats, who have spent months sparring over the future of health care with moderates pressing for a measured approach while Ms Warren and Mr Sanders call for a dramatic, government-funded overhaul of the insurance market.
But unlike Mr Sanders, Ms Warren refused to say whether she would raise taxes on the middle class to pay for Medicare for All — a stance that’s increasingly difficult to maintain given her more prominent status.
Her rivals seized on the opportunity to pounce.
“I appreciate Elizabeth’s work but, again, the difference between a plan and a pipe dream is something you can actually get done,” said Ms Klobuchar.
Mr Buttigieg added: “We heard it tonight. A ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question that didn’t get a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer.”
The political landscape has changed with Mr Trump facing an impeachment inquiry in the House focused on his quest to get Ukraine to dig up unflattering details about Mr Biden, another front-runner among the Democrats hoping to succeed him.
The debate also served as Mr Sanders’ return to the campaign trail following a heart attack earlier this month. The Vermont senator declared, “I’m feeling great.” and hinted at a rally on Saturday in which prominent freshman Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will reportedly endorse his presidential candidacy.
Additional reporting by Associated Press. Check out live updates as they came in below.
That's all for The Independent's live reporting from the Democratic debates.
Tulsi Gabbard says impeachment "will only further divide" the country if it is led in a "partisan" way.
She says the impeachment "should continue to play its course out" because it is "the only way forward."
Ms Gabbard is the only sitting congressperson on the debate stage.
Tom Steyer says everyone on stage is more "patriotic" than the "criminal in the White House" and discusses his efforts to raise support for impeachment over the last two years.
Andrew Yang says he supports impeachment but then immediately says "the fact is, when we talk about Donald Trump we are losing" and says we have to not focus on talking about impeachment.
Beto O'Rourke says "if there's not justice, not only have we failed this moment ... we have failed those who have laid their lives down on the line."
He thanks the veteran candidates on stage for their service.
Joe Biden is asked about claims from the president about his son's work on a Ukrainian energy firm.
He says "my son did nothing wrong, I did nothing wrong. I carried out the policy of the US government in rooting out corruption in Ukraine."
"My son's statement speaks for itself," he says. "What I think is important is we focus on why it's so important we remove this man from office."
"If I get the nomination I will beat [Trump] like a drum," Joe Biden says.
Bernie Sanders says "what we have got to do is end this corruption" and set a precedent so this does not happen again. But he says he wants to focus on the issues that matter to Americans.
Asked about her health insurance plan, Elizabeth Warren says "costs will go up for the wealthy and corporations, and for hard-working middle-class families, costs will go down."
"I will not sign a bill into law that does not lower costs for middle-class families," Elizabeth Warren says.
Pete Buttigieg says it was "a yes or no question that didn't get an answer."
"Your signature is that you have a plan for everything," he adds, but then says she does not have one when it comes to raising taxes.
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