Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg clash in most tense Democratic debate yet – live | US news

Moments ago, Amy Klobuchar invoked Mitt Romney’s vote to convict Trump on the first article of impeachment, abuse of power, making him the only Republican senator to support the article.

The mention of the name of Romney, the former Republican presidential nominee, prompted applause at the Democratic debate, a pretty stunning turn from 2012.

Pete Buttigieg hit back against his opponents’ criticism that he is not experienced enough to be president by saying Democrats had to abandon the “playbook of the past” and instead embrace a “new and better vision.”

Amy Klobuchar jumped into the debate over experience by criticizing both Pete Buttigieg and Joe Biden.

Klobuchar noted that Buttigieg’s relative inexperience on the national stage was a risk, but she noted she was a “fresh face,” unlike Biden, who had the necessary experience to become president.

“We have a newcomer in the White House, and look where it got us,” Klobuchar concluded.

The conversation has turned back to Joe Biden’s criticism that Pete Buttigieg does not have the experience to be president.

Buttigieg replied, as he has before, by claiming it is “time to turn the page” on the old Washington politics, a clear reference to Biden.

“I don’t know what about the past of Barack Obama and Joe Biden was so bad,” the former vice president said, before going on to list some of the major legislation he was involved in crafting, such as the Violence Against Women Act.

Buttigieg acknowledged those accomplishments were “phenomenally impotant because they met the moment, but now we need to meet this moment.”

Amy Klobuchar similarly criticized Bernie Sanders’ Medicare-for-all plan, saying there was no chance it would pass the Senate.

Klobuchar similarly slammed Elizabeth Warren for supporting a single-payer system and brought up an old tweet from Pete Buttigieg indicating the former Indiana mayor also supports Medicare-for-all.

Buttigieg has proposed a public option plan that he calls “Medicare-for-all who want it,” so he claims he has been consistent on the issue, but his critics disagree.

Joe Biden specifically criticized Bernie Sanders’ Medicare-for-all plan and highlighted the Vermont senator’s comment that it is “impossible to predict” how much the system will cost.

“I busted my neck getting Obamacare passed,” Biden said. “I know how hard it is.” Biden has proposed a public option plan, expanding on the Affordable Care Act, rather than a single-payer system.

Pete Buttigieg raised concerns that Bernie Sanders’ candidacy could divide the party, which is becoming the first major theme of tonight’s debate.

Buttigieg began his first answer by speaking more broadly about the need to have a unifying message and warned of candidates who can’t appeal to a wide base. When asked by George Stephanopoulos whether he was referring to Sanders, Buttigieg said he was.

Sanders replied by saying he believed his agenda, focused on Medicare-for-all and ensuring corporations are held accountable, will be unifying for the party.

Moments ago, when George Stephanopoulos asked if any other candidates had concerns about a self-described socialist being the nominee, only senator Amy Klobuchar raised her hand.

The Minnesota senator argued the Democratic nominee should focus on unifying the party.

“We are not going to be able to out-divide the divider-in-chief,” Klobuchar said in reference to Trump.

Tech entrepreneur got his first chance to speak at the debate, and he noted this marks a return for him, after failing to qualify for the last debate.

“America, it’s great to be back on the debate stage,” Yang said. “I’m so excited I want to give every American $1,000 a month,” he added, referring to his campaign promise of universal basic income.

Taking a question about whether his self-description as a “democratic socialist” will hurt his chances in a general election, Bernie Sanders dismissed Joe Biden’s concerns on the topic.

Moderator George Stephanopoulos noted that Trump warned of “socialism” taking away Americans’ healthcare in his State of the Union address on Tuesday.

But Sanders said, “Donald Trump lies all the time. It doesn’t matter what Donald Trump says.”

The seven Democratic presidential candidates have taken the stage, and the moderators reiterated that participants will have 1 minute 15 seconds to answer direct questions and 45 seconds for rebuttals.

The first question was posed to Joe Biden, and he was asked why he has said in recent days that Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg, the top finishers in Iowa, pose a risk if they win the nomination.

Biden acknowledged he “took a hit” in Iowa, where he finished fourth, and he predicted that he would “probably take a hit” in New Hampshire” as well considering Sanders’ strong finish there in 2016.

But Biden warned that Sanders represented a risk because of his self-description as a “democratic socialist,” while Buttigieg has not proved he has the experience to be president.