Joe comes out firing
Biden takes aim at Democratic rivals over health care plans
FRONTRUNNER Joe Biden had all cannons firing in the third Democratic debate for the White House nomination, clashing with his top two rivals over the future of health care and dismissing their plans as unrealistic pipe dreams.
Mr Biden, under pressure to appear in command as the candidate to beat in 2020, pushed back hard against senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren during the debate in Houston, Texas a showdown seen as a tough test of the 76year-old’s stamina.
In a high-octane clash with his fellow septuagenarians, the former vice president warned Mr Sanders’ plan to finance universal healthcare “gets him halfway there,” while Ms Warren has yet to indicate how hers will be paid for.
“I lay out how I can pay for it, how I can get it done, and why it’s better,” Mr Biden said of his plan, which maintains and builds on the Affordable Care Act Obamacare.
Ms Warren, a rising star in the race, and Mr Sanders each put up a spirited defence of their proposals.
“Those at the very top, the richest individuals and the biggest corporations, are going to pay more. And middle-class families are going to pay less,” Ms Warren said.
Mr Sanders, who wants a shift away from private health insurance, said “we will finally make sure that every American has health care as a human right, not a privilege”.
The battle over healthcare kicked off a marathon debate, as 10 hopefuls scrambled for breakout moments as they vie for the right to challenge sitting President Donald Trump. But the candidates did stand united on one key factor: ousting Mr Trump.
“We must and will defeat Trump, the most dangerous president in the history of this country,” Mr Sanders said.
At a dinner with Republican legislators on Thursday night, Mr Trump quickly dropped his message of “respect” toward his opponents, which he’d expressed just three hours earlier. Of Mr Sanders he said: “Crazy Bernie, he’s a crazy guy.” Mr Trump also took aim at the other Democratic hopefuls.