LAS VEGAS — A feisty
In contrast, Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, skipped the pleasantries of introducing himself at the debate's outset and blasted right into a critique of a campaign finance system that's "corrupt and is undermining American democracy."
He did offer moments of levity, however. In one exchange, CNN moderator
She repeated a defense she's used before — "It wasn't the best choice," — and said Americans are more interested in health care and college affordability issues than her email.
Sanders chimed in: "I think the secretary is right. The American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails." That got roars of approval from the audience in the debate hall.
"Thank you, Bernie," Clinton said, laughing and reaching out to shake his hand.
The three others on the debate stage Tuesday night – former Maryland governor
Political strategists had warned that the stakes were high for O'Malley to have a break-out moment in the debate, a two-hour-long affair staged at the Wynn hotel-casino in Las Vegas. He has run a serious campaign and impresses Democrats who go see him, but polling so far has shown he's the top choice for president for few voters.
When O'Malley offered criticism of Clinton, including saying she was "too quick" to turn to the military intervention as a solution, Clinton was ready.
"I have to say, I was very pleased when Governor O'Malley endorsed me for president in 2008, and I enjoyed his strong support in that campaign," she said.
But Clinton's central target seemed to be Sanders, who has been reeling in giant audiences and creeping up on her in the polls. She hit him on issues such as gun control and his disdain for certain principles of capitalism.
When Cooper asked Clinton if Sanders is tough enough on guns, she didn't hesitate.
"No, not at all," she answered.
Clinton said one of Sanders' failings was voting to give gun companies immunity from lawsuits.
Sanders retorted that "all the shouting in the world" is not going to keep guns out of the wrong hands or "end this horrible violence that we are seeing."
Later, when Sanders was asked if he's a capitalist, he answered that no, he's not "part of the casino capitalist process by which so few have so much and so many have so little by which Wall Street's greed and recklessness wrecked this economy." He cited
Clinton interrupted to slam Sanders. "We are not Denmark. I love Denmark. We are the United States of America. And it's our job to rein in the excesses of capitalism so that it doesn't run amok," she said.
Webb and Chafee worked to not be overshadowed, but Clinton dominated much of the conversation.
Chafee on multiple occasions drilled home that he has "had no scandals," that "credibility is an issue" and the country needs an ethical president. The moderator asked Clinton if she wanted to respond.
"No," she said, brushing off Chafee with a grin.
Chafee later suffered a blooper when the moderator asked why he voted, when he was a senator, for the repeal of a federal law that separated commercial banks and investment banks.
"Glass-Steagall was my very first vote. I just arrived, my dad died in office," Chafee answered. "I had just arrived. I was appointed to the office. It was my very first vote."Cooper asked: "Are you saying you didn't know what you were voting for?"
"I had just arrived in the Senate," Chafee repeated. "I think we all get some takeovers."
Media strategist Rich Robinson tweeted that that answer was "one of the worst moments in presidential debate history."
Next up: the GOP presidential candidates go at it again on Oct. 28 in Boulder, Colo. That debate, hosted by CNBC, will be their third. Democrats meet up again on Nov. 14 in Des Moines for a debate sponsored by CBS News, The Des Moines Register andKCCI-TV.
Iowa kicks off the first-in-the-nation voting on Feb. 1, followed by New Hampshire on Feb. 9, Nevada on Feb. 20 and South Carolina on Feb. 27.
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