Hillary fends off rivals in first Democratic debate

Expert L Sabato argued that both Clinton and Sanders emerged as winners

AFP, LAS VEGAS: Hillary Clinton emerged unscathed Tuesday from the Democratic Party’s first presidential debate, giving her renewed momentum as she gears for a showdown with Republicans over the 2012 Benghazi attack.
The frontrunner cut a calm and confident figure as she parried jabs by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and three other hopefuls, who challenged her on everything from political U-turns to gun control and military intervention in the Middle East.
But the former secretary of state—who took part in more than 20 debates in the 2008 White House race—appeared mostly polished and composed during a two-hour clash in Las Vegas that was heavy on substance.
An independent senator from Vermont who has drawn huge crowds on the 2016 campaign trail, Sanders also delivered a spirited performance as he appealed to the party’s left wing, urging action on climate change and attacking Wall Street.
There were some fiery moments too, with Clinton accusing Sanders—her chief rival—of being soft on gun control.
But Clinton received a surprise boost over her use of a private email server as US top diplomat—seen as an Achilles heel—as Sanders and others came to her defense.
“Enough of the e-mails! The American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn e-mails,” Sanders fumed.
Expert Larry Sabato argued that both Clinton and Sanders emerged as winners.
“Clinton went into the debate the frontrunner and she came out exactly the same—probably strengthened in that role,” he said.
“Sanders went in as the chief challenger and he came out the same—maybe even strengthened.”
The debate came just a week before Clinton was due to appear before a panel in the House of Representatives investigating the September 11, 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya that killed US ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.
Lawmakers on the Republican-led committee have narrowed their focus to Clinton’s use of a private email server while she served as the top US diplomat. She is due to testify publicly before the panel for the first time on October 22.
Overall, the debate was spared the dramatic clashes of personalities seen in the first two Republican debates, dominated by Donald Trump, who needled the Democratic candidates by Twitter even before they took to the lecterns.
The 67-year-old Clinton was keen to inject excitement into her campaign and show she can rally the Democratic base, while Sanders was testing whether his “political revolution” can translate to the national stage.
Sanders put forward passionate arguments for reducing income inequality, insisting he was not a part of the “casino capitalist” system.
“I believe in a society where all people do well, not just Wall Street billionaires,” he said.

Hillary fends off rivals in first Democratic debate

Expert L Sabato argued that both Clinton and Sanders emerged as winners

AFP, LAS VEGAS: Hillary Clinton emerged unscathed Tuesday from the Democratic Partys first presidential debate, giving her renewed momentum as she gears for a showdown with Republicans over the 2012 Benghazi attack. The frontrunner cut a calm and confident figure as she parried jabs by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and three other hopefuls, who challenged her on everything from political U-turns to gun control and military intervention in the Middle East. But the former secretary of statewho took part in more than 20 debates in the 2008 White House raceappeared mostly polished and composed during a two-hour clash in Las Vegas that was heavy on substance. An independent senator from Vermont who has drawn huge crowds on the 2016 campaign trail, Sanders also delivered a spirited performance as he appealed to the partys left wing, urging action on climate change and attacking Wall Street. There were some fiery moments too, with Clinton accusing Sandersher chief rivalof being soft on gun control. But Clinton received a surprise boost over her use of a private email server as US top diplomatseen as an Achilles heelas Sanders and others came to her defense. Enough of the e-mails! The American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn e-mails, Sanders fumed. Expert Larry Sabato argued that both Clinton and Sanders emerged as winners. Clinton went into the debate the frontrunner and she came out exactly the sameprobably strengthened in that role, he said. Sanders went in as the chief challenger and he came out the samemaybe even strengthened. The debate came just a week before Clinton was due to appear before a panel in the House of Representatives investigating the September 11, 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya that killed US ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. Lawmakers on the Republican-led committee have narrowed their focus to Clintons use of a private email server while she served as the top US diplomat. She is due to testify publicly before the panel for the first time on October 22. Overall, the debate was spared the dramatic clashes of personalities seen in the first two Republican debates, dominated by Donald Trump, who needled the Democratic candidates by Twitter even before they took to the lecterns. The 67-year-old Clinton was keen to inject excitement into her campaign and show she can rally the Democratic base, while Sanders was testing whether his political revolution can translate to the national stage. Sanders put forward passionate arguments for reducing income inequality, insisting he was not a part of the casino capitalist system. I believe in a society where all people do well, not just Wall Street billionaires, he said.