Debate Takeaways: Clinton, Sanders appeal to SC, Nevada

MILWAUKEE (AP) — In the first Democratic presidential debate since Bernie Sanders' sweeping victory in New Hampshire's primary, the Vermont senator sought to build upon success and introduce himself to voters who may be open to an alternative to Iowa winner Hillary Clinton.

The former secretary of state, meanwhile, tried Thursday night to assure Democrats worried about her ability to help the party hold onto the White House that she is still the best choice to succeed President Barack Obama.

Clinton and Sanders tangled over immigration reform, an issue closely watched by the large Latino community in Nevada, and discussed ways of addressing institutional racism, an issue of interest to black voters, who make up more than half of the Democratic electorate in South Carolina.

When Sanders challenged Clinton on her acceptance of campaign contributions from Wall Street, Clinton used Obama as a shield, noting that he had received a large amount of campaign cash from the financial sector but still pushed for the Dodd-Frank financial regulatory overhaul bill, passed in 2010.

When it mattered, he stood up and took on Wall Street," Clinton said of Obama, adding, "So, let's not in any way imply here that either President Obama or myself would in any way not take on any vested interest, whether it's Wall Street, or drug companies, or insurance companies, or frankly, the gun lobby, to stand up to do what's best for the American people.

Clinton took an aggressive stance on health care from the outset, arguing that Sanders' plan to create a universal health care system by expanding Medicare would undermine Obama's Affordable Care Act.

"[...] when we talk about criminal justice reform, and ending the era of mass incarceration, we also have to talk about jobs, education, housing and other ways of helping communities," she said.

In the debate's second half, Sanders tried to impugn Clinton's judgment on foreign policy by pointing out that she had boasted of winning the praise of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who served during the administration of President Richard Nixon.