Clinton fends off challenges over ISIS

Three Democratic presidential candidates gathered in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday night for a debate that has been jolted by the terrorist attacks across Paris that killed more than 100 people and that the French President has declared an “act of war”.

The Democratic presidential candidates are squaring off on stage, but behind-the-scenes drama preceded the event as organizers announced changes just hours before it started to accommodate questions regarding the Paris terror attacks.

Debate moderator John Dickerson opened the debate by noting how its timing coincided with the tragedy in Paris and asked the audience and the candidates to observe a moment of silence. 72 percent of Americans think the fight against ISIS is going badly. Sanders said it was, and then criticized Hillary Clinton’s foreign policy and support for the Iraq war.

Likewise, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley called for a renewed effort against ISIS, but insisted the US must work more collaboratively with countries in the Middle East. “This is the new face of conflict and warfare …”

“Look, she has far more experience on foreign policy but I think if you look at who has the judgment on foreign policy, we will see who prevails”, Weaver said. I don’t think we’re at war with all Muslims.

The Democratic position is likely to be highlighted by Republicans, who are already pointing to the Paris attacks as evidence that more refugees should not be let in. Dickerson asked if that will be the legacy of the Obama administration, which includes her as a former Secretary of State. “And I agree with much of what the secretary and the governor have said”, said Sanders.

Since the party’s first debate a month ago, Clinton has helped build a lead in the early voting states, an uptick that has come amid other signs the party is coalescing behind her. An Associated Press survey of super delegates published Friday found that half of the Democratic insiders are publicly backing Clinton. Bernie Sanders sharply pivoted away from commenting on foreign policy during his opening statement, instead focusing on the economic issues that form the central theme of his campaign.

O’Malley argued that the problem wasn’t simply limited to Clinton’s vote for the Iraq invasion, pointing to “cascading effects” that followed. We are at war with violent extremism. The Sanders consultant, Mark Longabaugh, said it was unfair to turn the evening into a foreign policy debate on the day of the debate, according to two people who participated in the call.

“If Hillary Clinton were to be indicted by the Justice Department, that blows everything up”, Goldford said.

Last month, the possibility of Joe Biden jumping into the race and upending the party’s nomination process loomed large; now, the country knows that the vice president will not pursue another White House bid. After a strong first debate performance, her poll numbers have ticked up, and she’s widened her lead over Sanders. I really put that on Assad and on the Iraqis and on the region itself.