Feisty. That was the key word for the ninth, and likely last, Democratic presidential primary debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
Debating in Brooklyn, both candidates came out swinging, both recognizing that the New York primary results Tuesday night could go a long way in determining the momentum and conclusion of the race.
New: Sanders announced he would be releasing copies of his 2014 tax returns on Friday. Sanders said, “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.” He did not commit to releasing any more, while Clinton has provided eight years of returns.
Sanders earned a huge ovation challenging Clinton to release transcripts of her speeches to Goldman Sachs where she earned up to $250,000 per speech. The audience booed her when she attempted to pivot on the question to her opponents tax returns.
While Clinton takes hits on her Wall Street connections, Sanders is scrambling to explain his position on the National Rifle Association. Sanders lost a congressional campaign in 1988 opposing the NRA, only to win the seat two years later after promising them he would oppose the Brady Bill – which he has five times. The audience clearly sided with Clinton on the gun debate.
New York is home to the largest Jewish population and Jewish voters will make up around 16 percent of the total vote on Tuesday. Two recent polls show Clinton leading Sanders among Jewish voters by over a 2 to 1 margin. Sanders, who is Jewish, again criticized the Israeli military’s conduct in Gaza in 2014, saying it had been an over-reaction to attacks by the group Hamas. That is a deeply unpopular position in the Jewish community. Clinton was more supportive of the Israeli government and questioned any commitment to peace by the Palestinians.
Both Clinton and Sanders supported the 1994 Crime Bill, but agree it now needs significant prison reform. Clinton has apologized for the “unintended” consequences of the bill, signed by her husband into law, which has been blamed for an increase in the incarceration of African Americans. Sanders said Clinton had used a “racist term” when she spoke of criminal “super-predators” in the 1990s. Clinton did not respond.
Both have called for an increase in the federal minimum wage, although Sanders attacked his opponent for only favoring a $12 an hour wage instead of the $15 he has proposed. Clinton said $12 is a better start point, but she would encourage states to go above it.
Clinton received an extended standing ovation during the debate when she brought up abortion rights. She pointed out Republican governors and lawmakers are chipping away at Roe v. Wade. Sanders said funding for Planned Parenthood needs to be expanded.
Several major polls this week show Clinton expanding a double digit lead over Sanders in the Big Apple. Sanders plans to fly to Rome tomorrow, perhaps a sign that he knows winning the New York primary is beyond his reach.