[B]ernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton escalated attacks at a CNN Democratic Debate in Flint, Michigan, on Sunday.
Looking to attract voters in the diverse, industrial primary state of Michigan, both Clinton and Sanders highlighted pressing issues there, including policing, trade agreements and the lead-tainted drinking supply in Flint that has impacted thousands.
Sanders hit Clinton’s past support for major trade deals, including the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, saying that he was glad “Secretary Clinton discovered religion on this issue but it’s a little bit too late.”
Clinton gave a sharp rebuttal, pointing to Sanders’ opposition to the auto bailout in 2008, telling the crowd that the Vermont senator “voted against the money that ended up saving the auto industry. I think that is a pretty big difference.”
Sanders characterized the money as bailing out Wall Street, and when Clinton interjected, Sanders piped up again. “Excuse me, I’m talking,” he said. Clinton persisted, and Sanders again prickily responded, telling Clinton “You’ll have your turn, all right?”
Many of the exchanges echoed past debate matchups. There were tussles over gun control, electability and financial reform. Sanders again hammered Clinton for past speeches she has given for Wall Street bankers, demanding she release the transcripts. “If you get paid a couple hundred thousand dollars for a speech, it must be a great speech,” Sanders said. “I think we should release it and let the American people see what that transcript was.”
On the topic of hydrofracking, an oil extraction process that has proliferated domestically in recent years, Clinton said she was in favor of allowing the practice as long as it is heavily regulated. Sanders said he was unequivocally against fracking.
The two were in agreement about stopping Donald Trump from becoming commander-in-chief.
“The last time I checked as of last night, Donald Trump had received 3.6 million votes, which is a good number,” Clinton said. “And there is only one candidate in either party who has more votes than him and that’s me.”
The two candidates each emphasized recent visits with families in Flint in their opening remarks, and both called for the state’s governor, Republican Rick Snyder, to resign.
“You are paying three times more for poison water than I am paying in Burlington, Vermont, for clean water,” Sanders told an audience member who asked about the water crisis. “First thing is you say, people are not paying a water bill for poison and that is retroactive.”
Sunday’s showdown in the Wolverine State was the first debate after the March 1 Super Tuesday primary blitz, where Clinton’s substantial victories in large, diverse southern states overwhelmed Sanders’ more modest showing. Sanders had a blowout win in Vermont, and won Oklahoma and caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota, states he actively competed to win. As expected, Clinton crushed Sanders in the southern states, including Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, Virginia and Tennessee, where he did little advertising.
Sanders picked up a few more states over the weekend, winning caucuses in Maine, Nebraska and Kansas. Sanders’ total delegates captured from all three states hovered around 53 over the weekend, though that number could change after all the votes are counted.
Clinton, meanwhile, won the Louisiana primary on Sunday, netting 37 delegates, according to the New York Times.
The total unpledged delegate score, so far: Clinton-671, Sanders-476.
When you add the superdelegates, Clinton’s lead grows: 1,129 to 498.
The Sanders campaign is betting on a win in Michigan, where a strong showing could prove Sanders’ ability to broadly connect with racially diverse voters. It would also show solidified support among union membership, and working-class whites.
Advisers are also hoping for good results in California, New York Oregon and Washington, states that will cast votes through the spring.
