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| Democratic debate: Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders get critical and noisy |
Presidential hopefuls Hillary
Clinton and Bernie Sanders ratcheted up their attacks in a bruising,
final debate before next Tuesday's New York primary.
The
Democratic race has turned increasingly negative in recent days as the
candidates traded barbs about their qualifications for the presidency. They also clashed on Wall Street banks, gun controls and the minimum wage.
Mr Sanders has won seven of the past eight contests, but Mrs Clinton holds a clear lead in race for the nomination.
The Democrats have largely avoided the personal attacks that have dominated the Republicans' debates.
But with so much at stake that changed in Thursday's debate.
"Does Secretary Clinton have the experience and intelligence to be president? Of course she does," Mr Sanders said at the debate. "But I do question her judgement."
Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Reporter
New York has a reputation for brashness and bellicosity, and it seemed that attitude may have rubbed off on the two participants in the Democratic debate in Brooklyn.Practically from the opening bell, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders went after each other's policy positions and records with a vigour that stood in stark contrast to the polite exchanges of past debates. Sure, they were both qualified to be president, they admitted, but both questioned their opponent's "judgment".
The former secretary of state knocked Mr Sanders off balance on gun control, quipping when he let out a chuckle during her response that 30,000 people dying a year is "not a laughing matter". Meanwhile, the Vermont senator once again bashed Mrs Clinton for her support of the 2003 Iraq War - tying it to the same kind of "mentality" that led to an ill-fated US intervention in Libya.
At one point moderator Wolf Blitzer tried to break up a heated exchange by warning that "if you're both screaming at each other, the viewers won't be able to hear either of you".
They kept talking. At this point in the marathon Democratic campaign, neither side can afford to let an attack go unanswered.
More from Anthony
Meanwhile, Mrs Clinton has questioned whether Mr Sanders has adequately thought out his policy proposals after he struggled to provide specifics during an interview with the New York Daily News.
"It's easy to diagnose the problem. It's another thing to do something about it," Mrs Clinton said.
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| New York is seen as a must-win state for Mr Sanders |
The candidates' recent tensions were on display on stage. Mr Sanders mocked Mrs Clinton's responses at times while Mrs Clinton occasionally talked over her opponent.
Other highlights included:
- Mrs Clinton refused Mr Sanders' demand to release the transcripts of paid speeches she has given to Wall Street companies, saying she would do so only when all other candidates did the same
- Mrs Clinton demanded Mr Sanders release his tax returns, saying she had published 30 years' worth and it was expected of all candidates. Mr Sanders promised to release them on Friday
- Mrs Clinton aggressively criticised Mr Sanders' record on gun control, pointing out he voted to shield gun makers from legal liabilities
- Mr Sanders spoke passionately about the threat of climate change. "Those little steps are not enough," he said of the policies of the Obama administration
- Mrs Clinton defended her role in the US intervention in Libya; Mr Sanders faulted her for the breakdown in security in that country
- Mr Sanders called for European allies to contribute more financial support to Nato, echoing sentiments from Republican front-runner Donald Trump
- "We can't continue to be one sided," Mr Sanders said of America's role in solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
- Mrs Clinton offered a full-throated defence of abortion rights, eliciting cheers from the crowd
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