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As it happenedended

Democratic debate: Winners, losers, protests, arguments and all the key moments from Las Vegas

Follow the latest updates, as they happened

Clark Mindock
New York
Thursday 20 February 2020 05:36 GMT
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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.

The 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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AOC agrees with Sanders:

Clark Mindock20 February 2020 03:23

Buttigieg says that the US doesn't make the "American dream" available through opportunity to its citizens — and says that Denmark leads on those metrics.

Sanders and Warren seemed to both laugh immediately.

Clark Mindock20 February 2020 03:24

"You know what Mr Bloomberg it wasn't you who made all that money, maybe it was your workers who made some of that as well," Sanders says to the billionaire.

He notes he wants workers to sit on corporate boards.

Bloomberg says "absolutely not" when asked if he would agree to that. He says the conversation will make it easy for Trump to re-win the presidency.

Clark Mindock20 February 2020 03:25

Warren now getting cheers as she lists off the policies she could pursue as president with a 2 cent wealth tax.

Clark Mindock20 February 2020 03:26

Sanders defends owning three homes, and questions where Bloomberg's home is, wondering which "tax haven" his home is in.

"NewYork City, thank you very much," Bloomberg responds.

Clark Mindock20 February 2020 03:29

"It's true, I was into Bernie before it was cool," Buttigieg says, recognizing that he once wrote a piece praising the Vermonter.

Clark Mindock20 February 2020 03:31

Journalist Bill O'Reilly is being mocked for his tweet during the Democratic debate. He commented about Michael Bloomberg looking "weak" for his response about refusing to make non-disclosure agreements with women who worked for him public. People were quick to point out sexual harassment allegations against the former Fox News host and his attempt to seal settlements agreements he struck with multiple women.

Lucy Anna Gray20 February 2020 03:47

Who's spoken the most? 

With not long to go, Elizabeth Warren is the candidate who has dominated so far with the most speaking time. She is followed by Bernie Sanders then Michael Bloomberg, according to CNN data

Lucy Anna Gray20 February 2020 03:53

Winners and losers

As the candidates give their closing statements, here's our take on who won and lost tonight's debate: 

Lucy Anna Gray20 February 2020 03:55

Joe Biden's closing statement has been interrupted by protesters shouting, met with boos from the crowd. It is unclear at this time what they're saying.

Lucy Anna Gray20 February 2020 03:58

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