DURHAM, N.H. — After weeks of insisting that they were not attacking one another, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders took the gloves off for their first one-on-one debate as they sparred on who would be the more progressive president.
Asked about his claim that the former secretary of state is a progressive only on “some days,” Sanders pointed to Clinton’s prior claim that she is “guilty” or being a “moderate.”
“If I could, you know, in the very first debate I was asked am I a moderate or a progressive and I said I’m a progressive who likes to get things done. Cherry picking a quote here or there doesn’t change my record.” Clinton insisted.
She added, “Look, I understand Senator Sanders is really trying to distinguish himself. I understand that, that’s what you do in campaigns, but at the same time let’s not be — in, I think an unfair way, making an accusation, or making an attack about where I stand and about where I’ve always stood.”
Sanders hit Clinton on her acceptance of $675,000 in Wall Street speaking fees. In response Clinton accused Sanders of “insinuation and innuendo,” challenging him to name where she’s been corrupted or unduly influenced.
“You will not find that I ever changed a view or a vote because of any donation I ever received,” Clinton said. “So I think it’s time to end the very artful smear you and your campaign have been carrying out.”
Following the debate, Clinton surrogate Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., told the Washington Examiner that it was not necessary for Clinton to explain her Wall Street speeches or release the transcripts, asking “does Condolezza Rice release her transcripts?” Shaheen also said that voters should not be concerned about this issue since the only person attacking her on this issue, “besides Bernie Sanders,” is Karl Rove who “wants to see her defeated.”
When asked the same question about Clinton’s speech transcripts, both DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz and Hillary for America Chair John Podesta declined comment.
Clinton was especially aggressive when the topic turned to foreign policy, painting Sanders as inexperienced, unprepared and somewhat naïve.
“You’ve got to be ready on day one. There is just too much unpredictable threat and danger in the world today, you know, to try to just say wait, I’ll get to that when I can. That is just not an acceptable approach,” Clinton told Sanders.
While speaking with the Examiner after the debate Sanders’ spokeswoman Symone Sanders countered that Clinton’s claim that the Senator doesn’t have a plan to combat the Islamic State is “simply not true” and that he often speaks about the issue on the campaign trail.
“The idea that if we don’t release a quote un-quote policy paper we won’t have a plan, I don’t think that’s true,” the spokeswoman said.
She added, “Secretary Clinton was a secretary of state so of course doing the job you have more experience. But Senator Sanders has noted that experience is important but judgment is more important.”
Clinton prevailed by a margin of less than 1 percent in Iowa and is trailing Sanders in New Hampshire. For the third night in a row, the two candidates will appear together at the New Hampshire Democratic Party dinner Friday night.
