CHARLESTON, S.C.: Turning up the temperature, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders tangled repeatedly in Sunday night’s presidential debate over who’s tougher on gun control and Wall Street and how to steer the future of health care in America. It was the last Democratic matchup before voting begins in two weeks, and both sides were eager to rumble as polls showed the race tightening in the leadoff states of Iowa and New Hampshire.
Clinton rapped Sanders, the Vermont senator, for voting repeatedly with the National Rifle Association, and then welcomed his weekend reversal of position to support legislation that would deny gun manufacturers legal immunity. She rattled off a list of provisions that she said Sanders had supported in line with the NRA.
Sanders, in turn, said Clinton’s assertion that he kowtowed to the gun lobby was “very disingenuous” and pointed to his lifetime rating of a D- from the NRA.
On health care, Sanders released his plan for a government-run single-payer plan just hours before the debate, and used his opening statement to call for health care “for every man, woman and child as a right.” Clinton, by contrast, urged less sweeping action to build on President Barack Obama’s health care plan by reducing out-of-pocket costs and control spending on prescription drugs.
Clinton suggested Sanders’ approach was dangerous — and pie-in-the-sky unrealistic.
“With all due respect, to start over again with a whole new debate is something that would set us back,” Clinton said.
Sanders dismissed the idea that he’d endanger hard-won victories, insisting: “No one is tearing this up; we’re going to go forward.”
Clinton suggested Sanders’ health care plan would impose a heavier tax burden on the middle class, saying “I want to raise incomes, not taxes.”
Sanders insisted taxpayers would come out ahead with lower costs overall. “It’s a pretty good deal,” he said.
The two tangled over financial policy, too, with Sanders suggesting Clinton won’t be tough enough on Wall Street given the big contributions and speaking fees she’s accepted. Clinton, in turn, faulted Sanders’ past votes to deregulate financial markets and ease up on federal oversight.
Then, she took a step back to put those differences in a different perspective.
“We’re at least having a vigorous debate about reining in Wall Street,” she declared. “The Republicans want to give them more power.”
Clinton worked aggressively to associate herself with Obama, claiming credit for her role in the run-up to the Iran nuclear deal, and praising the health care law.
Clinton also shed some light on what role her husband, former President Bill Clinton, would play in her administration. Kitchen table adviser, perhaps?
“It’ll start at the kitchen table — we’ll see where it goes from there,” she said with a laugh.
Then, pointing to the successes of her husband’s administration, she added: “You bet I’m going to ask for his ideas. I’m going to ask for his advice.”