Duel in Brooklyn: Aggressive debate reflects how much is at stake for Democrats in New York

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders squared off Thursday night in a sometimes testy debate on the eve of the all-important New York Democratic primary.

The showdown came at a crucial point in the campaign, with Clinton leading in the delegate count but Sanders riding a wave of recent gains and generating enthusiasm among many voters for his candidacy. And it left no doubt that a battle that had once been mostly courtly has taken a personal tone.

Sanders noted Clinton's support for the unpopular war in Iraq while she was a senator and her support for free trade agreements, as well as her willingness to take money from a super PAC.

For her part, Clinton portrayed Sanders as a policy lightweight, especially in foreign affairs, although he showed his acumen in that area in exchanges over the Middle East.

For Clinton, a win in the delegate-rich state that twice elected her senator would slow Sanders' recent momentum and severely damage his chances of earning the nomination. A Sanders upset would turn the race on its head.

Published in Editorials on April 15, 2016 10:54 AM