CNN’s televised debate in Des Moines, Iowa, could be summarised as pragmatism versus passion, reports the BBC.
During the event, at which the three candidates appeared separately, Hillary Clinton praised the “poetry” of Senator Sanders’s campaign but said the country was “governed in prose”.
Her critics “throw all this stuff at me – and I’m still standing”, she said.
The Vermont senator, who has energised young voters with his call for a political revolution, repeated his pledge to “take on the greed of corporate America”.
He contrasted his own commitment to a “Medicare-for-all” programme and free public university tuition to Mrs Clinton’s vote to authorise the Iraq war and early support for the controversial Canada to Texas Keystone pipeline.
Mrs Clinton highlighted her “40-year record in going after inequality” and suggested Mr Sanders was ill-equipped to face the tough challenge of being president.
She also said she was “really touched and gratified” to see comments from President Barack Obama in a Politico interview, in which he called her “wicked smart” and suggested Mr Sanders benefited from “the luxury of being a complete long shot”.
Mr Obama has not endorsed any candidate and the Sanders campaign has applauded his “even-handedness” throughout the campaign.
(Selorm) | 
(Nana Kwesi)