Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders squared off Thursday night in the most heatedand dramatic Democratic presidential debate of the 2016 cycle. The rivals battled itout at a two-hour prime-time event on CNN that exposed fundamental differences in their candidacies and campaign styles.Coming just five days ahead of the crucial New York contest Tuesday, the debatefeatured combative exchanges on issues including gun control, Israel and Wall Street reform. These policy disagreements were fueled by a broader clash: Sanders cast doubt on Clinton's judgment and credibility, while Clinton insisted that the Vermont senator lacked experience and pragmatism.As the two delivered harsh attacks throughout the night -- on multiple occasions inviting intervention from the moderators -- a rowdy crowd at the Brooklyn Navy Yards stoked the tension, loudly cheering and hissing to take sides.Thursday's debate and the primary here next week come at a critical juncture in the Democratic contest. Sanders is trying to change the dynamics of a race that has delivered many more delegates to Clinton; the former secretary of state, meanwhile, is on an urgent mission to halt the momentum of her unexpectedly strong challenger.Sanders came out swinging, accusing his Democratic presidential rival of "lacking the kind of judgment we need to be the kind of president we need." But he foundhimself on defense for not releasing his taxes and said he would do so on Friday.Clinton again found herself in the spotlight for her paid speeches to big banks, declining to release the transcripts when pressed by CNN moderators. But she counterpunched by referring to the Vermont senator's trouble explaining some of hiscore policies in an interview with the New York Daily News.Attacks on Wall StreetThe showdown, held just across the river from Wall Street quickly turned to the issue of the big banks and their perceived excesses.When asked to name a single policy decision Clinton made as senator that showedshe was favoring the banks, Sanders said that when the "greed and recklessness and illegal behavior of Wall Street" led to the financial crisis, he had called on thebig banks to be broken up -- while Clinton was "busy giving speeches to GoldmanSachs."Clinton shot back: "He cannot come up with any example because there is no example ... It's always important -- it may be inconvenient -- but it's always important to get the facts straight.
"When Clinton said that she had spoken out against the big banks for the actions,Sanders took a mocking tone."Oh my goodness, they must have been really crushed by this," he said, asking whether her statements came before or after "receiving huge sums" from the banksin speaking fees.Clinton was pressed by co-moderator Dana Bash on why she would not release the transcripts from the speeches she made to Goldman Sachs and put the issue to rest. Clinton answered: "There isn't an issue. When I was in public service serving as the senator from New York, I did stand up to the banks."Clinton -- as she has in the past -- asked that there be the "same standard for everybody," saying she would be happy to release the transcripts if other presidential candidates, including Donald Trump, did the same.She then turned the tables on Sanders and his tax returns, saying: "Set the samestandard on tax returns. Everybody does it -- and then we move forward."Sanders, who has come under pressure to release his tax returns, vowed on the debate stage to release his previous year's return on Friday. Returns from earlier years, he said, would also be released "very shortly."Firing on gun controlThe two also displayed intense friction over gun control.Throughout the campaign, Clinton has criticized Sanders' record in Congress on gun control -- an attack she once again made forcefully on Thursday night. Clinton accused Sanders of having made a "commitment to the NRA" to oppose a waiting period for background checks on gun purchases -- and slammed the senator for voting against the so-called "Brady Bill" five times.Sanders was forced to address one particularly difficult issue related to guns.
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