As Democrats face-off, Clinton saves her criticism for GOP

As all five Democratic presidential candidates descended on Cedar Rapids, Iowa to share a stage for the first time, Senator Bernie Sanders cited his rival Hillary Clinton’s support from Goldman Sachs as one of the factors that distinguish them.

The question is, though, whether candidates will go after the other Democrats – even though the candidates are in the room – or whether they will turn their focus on Republicans. Republicans are reporting brisk ticket sales for the headliner for their annual Reagan-Rockefeller dinner: Donald Trump.

The Clinton campaign has so far declined to discuss any of her Democratic opponents, other than to say it has always assumed it would face a competitive primary.

“They still believe that if you cut taxes on the wealthy, if you lift regulations on corporations, that somehow, economic activity will trickle down to all the rest of them, of us”, Clinton said. Calling him the “new Republican frontrunner” – a nod to his standing in the polls – Clinton said she was happy there is “finally a candidate whose hair gets more attention than mine”.

He called it the “moral issue” of our times. For the veterans who served our country.

“I think the subprime market was sort of like the canary in the mine”, she said.

In the same speech, she spoke again of the risky lending that led to the subprime mortgage crisis, adding that she called on then-President George W. Bush to convene a conference to find a solution.

“Nothing will get done unless millions of people stand up and loudly proclaim enough is enough, this country belongs to all of us and not a handful of billionaires”, Sanders said.

It’s unclear what will be the long-term consequences, if any, of Clinton’s choice.

“Hillary’s history with LGBT – she now gives support and I’m happy she does, but she hasn’t given consistent support”. In an AP-GfK poll conducted at the end of April, 46 percent had a favorable opinion and just 41 percent had an unfavorable opinion of Clinton.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Sen. However, O’Malley got a warm reception from the audience, as he stuck closely to a populist message similar to Sanders’.

Iowa’s role in picking nominees began, for modern purposes, in 1976, when an unknown one-term governor from Georgia came in and won. Even with a scant political record and questions about his background, Barack Obama beat Hillary because he was a better campaigner and speaker.

“Seventy percent of us are earning the same or less today than we were 12 years ago”.

Chafee and Webb have their work cut out for them, if their polite reception from the crowd was any indication. The former Maryland governor recently released a detailed policy agenda to combat financial fraud in the private sector.

Obama has pledged to veto any attempt by Republicans to sink the deal. “We’re at the brink of all kinds of new information. Avoiding war is worth every bit of our energy”, Chafee said. For the factory workers and the food servers who have taken care of us tonight.

Iowa Democrats feel the event offers Sanders and O’Malley, Clinton’s two most stout Democratic challengers, the biggest opportunity. Just ask the caucus goers. When in her remarks she noted: “We have a presidential election coming up”, a voice in the cavernous hall shouted “Run!” which brought prolonged applause. The 1,300-person audience was largely dominated by Clinton supporters, who hooped and hollered throughout her speech.

Former Cedar Rapids mayor Kay Halloran, one of seven inductees, received the outstanding supporter award.

Clinton isn’t the only candidate with underwater ratings.