Democratic debate: Winners, losers, protests, arguments and all the key moments from Las Vegas
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The six leading Democratic presidential candidates have have sparred on stage in Las Vegas last presidential primary debate before the Nevada caucuses, marking the most heated clash yet in the primary season
Finally joining the candidates who have been vying for a shot at unseating Donald Trump in the key early voting states is Mike Bloomberg, the billionaire White House hopeful who has gotten under the president’s skin in recent weeks thanks to a heavily-funded advertising spree. Mr Trump attacked the former New York City mayor as a “pathetic debater” ahead of tonight’s event, to which Mr Bloomberg replied: “Impeached president says what?”
But Mr Bloomberg's fellow Democrats all saw him as an apparent obvious target, and repeatedly attacked him for his wealth, and his decision to bankroll his own campaign and to skip the first few nominating states altogether (including Nevada).
Enjoying his status as front-runner, Bernie Sanders steered through the night with relatively few attacks on his campaign, and reliably stuck to his general message arguing against billionaires — including Mr Bloomberg.
It was Elizabeth Warren who may have stolen the show, though, with a heated attack on Mr Bloomberg early on for his use of NDAs in his business, which he refused to pull from women who might have accusations to be made against him.
Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures
Show all 18The president wasn’t the only one lobbing attacks against Mr Bloomberg before the debate, either: as the Democrats prepared to spar, Ms Warren warned the billionaire she would use the debate to show how she handles an “egomaniac billionaire", along with several other candidates who said they would take on the former mayor.
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Yang gang is still around
Behind some of the pundits in the NBC News coverage leading up to tonight's debate, there are some "Nevada for Yang" signs being waved.
Yang withdrew after the New Hampshire primary, but retains a loyal fanbase — clearly.
Earlier today we learned that he will be joining CNN as a political analyst.
Want to watch tonight's debate online? We've got you covered
Tonight's debate is being hosted by NBC News, MSNBC and The Nevada Independent.
The latter is streaming the event right here.
Calm before the storm?
Mike Bloomberg is likely going to be attacked by all sides tonight, jumping in as the new guy but also the one with the most money behind his campaign (his own billions).
Here he is on Twitter just moments ago:
Alright folks, the candidates are now aligned on the debate stage. Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden are in the middle, with the other veterans to the 2020 campaign a bit to the side.
Bloomberg is slightly removed.
Our own Andrew Buncombe had a chance to ask DNC chairman Tom Perez what gives, as far as Bloomberg's invitation today is concerned:
The candidates are now behind their lecterns. They'll be announced any moment by Lester Holt.
First question notes Sanders being a "democratic socialist" and Bloomberg's millions in spending.
Sanders asked about Bloomberg's claim he is a centrist and the best bet to take on Trump.
"In order to beat Donald Trump we're going to need the largest voter turnout in the history of the United States," Sanders says before noting Bloomberg's NYC policies of stop and frisk targeting black people and hispanics — which he called "outrageous".
Bloomberg responds to Sanders, saying he will alienate folks with Medicare for All.
"I don't think there's any chance of the senator beating president Trump. You don't start out by saying I've got 160 million people I'm gonna take away their insurance that they know and love."
Warren slams Bloomberg, leading the crowd on a bit.
"I'd like to talk about who we are running against. A billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse faced lesbians. And no I am not talking about Donald Trump. I am talking about Mayor Bloomberg."
She suggests that things won't work for the country if they "substitute one arrogant billionaire for another".
Strong first lines, and the first big applause.
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