The Fourth Democratic Debate: It’s About to Get Real
The way they were: Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton go along to get along during CNN’s presidential debate in Las Vegas, Nevada on Oct. 13, 2015. Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock
It’s a key moment for Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton as they both hover within clinching range of their party’s nomination. Sunday night’s fourth debate, held in an auspicious location in Charleston, S.C., could represent the moment when the tone shifts from congenial to combative.
That’s not to leave out former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, who’s still in play in a contest in which media coverage—or lack thereof—plays a part in determining the outcome. But in many respects, and owing to whatever contributing factors, this go-round will be about the differences between Clinton and Sanders, as the two candidates will make sure to illustrate.
It’s also the last debate before the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1.
CNN touched on some of the themes of the moment in a write-up posted earlier on Sunday:
The face-off at 9 p.m. ET on NBC is the final scheduled meeting before the February 1 Iowa caucuses and comes as Sanders is surging in some early-state polls.
But he faces multiple challenges as he prepares to square off against Clinton.
For one, she is often at her best when her back is against a wall—as she demonstrated last fall during an 11-hour grilling by House Republicans over Benghazi or after losing early contests to then-Sen. Barack Obama in 2008.
Meanwhile, the debate’s location—just a block from the site of last year’s racially motivated church shooting—and timing on the heels of the Iran nuclear deal’s implementation could give Clinton an advantage in gun control or foreign policy discussions. Those are areas where Sanders has struggled.
For her part, Clinton has to make up for her apparent miscalculations with regard to Sanders’ strengths earlier in the election cycle.
Truthdig will be live blogging what looks to be a lively event starting at 6 p.m. Pacific time, 9 p.m. Eastern. Watch this space.
—Posted by Kasia Anderson
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Source: http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/the_fourth_democratic_debate_its_about_to_get_real_20160117/
