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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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"Leadership isn't just about policy... leadership is also about how you motivate people to treat other people," Buttigieg says in an attack on Sanders.

Clark Mindock20 February 2020 02:16

Klobuchar suggests nominating a woman as Democratic nominee, to stop sexism online.

Clark Mindock20 February 2020 02:17
Clark Mindock20 February 2020 02:17

Sanders responds to worries that Medicare for All will take away insurance and go "too far". "No," he says when asked if those criticisms are right.

He notes that the US pays twice as much per capita on healthcare as other developed countries, with worse outcomes.

Clark Mindock20 February 2020 02:18

Sanders sends a message to the Culinary Workers Union, that it's a "great union" and says his administration will not cut healthcare options.

Clark Mindock20 February 2020 02:19

Warren praises the Culinary Workers Union healthcare facilities, and says that they need to bring it out to everyone.

She says that Buttigieg has a plan with a slogan that was "thought up by his consultants", says his plan is "not a plan, it's a powerpoint".

She then attacks Klobuchar, and says her healthcare ideas are a "post-it note, place plan here".

Clark Mindock20 February 2020 02:20

Warren has now attacked nearly every candidate on the stage in a single answer, after adding Sanders to the earlier list.

Clark Mindock20 February 2020 02:20

Buttigieg responds to the "powerpoint" criticism, saying he is "more of a Microsoft Word guy".

Clark Mindock20 February 2020 02:21

Klobuchar notes that post-it notes were "invented in my state", after Warren attacks her healthcare policy as being one.

Clark Mindock20 February 2020 02:22

Klobuchar makes the first reference to gambling in Las Vegas tonight, saying you don't put your money on a number that's "not even on the wheel", referring to pie in the sky ideas on healthcare.

Clark Mindock20 February 2020 02:23

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