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.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has praised Cory Booker's praise of Kamala Harris and support for women's reproductive rights. All the praise:
Bernie Sanders is asked whether his plan is to "tax billionaires out of existence."
He says millions of people are struggling with student debt, living in poverty and describes a "moral and economic outrage."
"We cannot afford a billionaire class whose greed and corruption has been at war with this country for 45 years," he says.
Tom Steyer, the sole billionaire on the stage, says he agrees with Bernie Sanders.
"I was one of the first people on this stage to propose a wealth tax" he says.
"Our government has failed," he says.
Biden slips up and says he will 'eliminate the capital gains tax' before saying he will actually double it, before discussing the need for workers to make more money in the US.
"Not even the billionaire wants to protect billionaires," Amy Klobuchar says to Elizabeth Warren. "Your idea is not the only idea!"
Here's The Independent's Andrew Buncombe with more on that moment from Cory Booker:
Andrew Yang is discussing his call for giving Americans "a slice" of every sale made by major corporations like Amazon.
Beto O'Rourke is now saying he thinks Elizabeth Warren is sometimes focused on "pitting" Americans against each other.
Ms Warren is clearly taking hits from all sides tonight.
"I don't have a beef with billionaires," Elizabeth Warren says. She goes on to say that billionaires should be required to pay more because the US gave them the opportunity to live the lives they've reached.
"Pitch in two cents so every other kid in America has a chance," she says.
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