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Democratic debate: Joe Biden criticised for race record Democratic debate: Joe Biden criticised for race record
(32 minutes later)
Democratic White House front-runner Joe Biden has come under fierce attack for his record on race in a televised debate with nine rivals. Democratic White House front-runner Joe Biden came under fierce attack for his record on race in a televised debate with nine rivals on Thursday.
Senator Kamala Harris assailed him for touting his past work with bigoted senators and having once opposed a policy to foster diversity in schools. Senator Kamala Harris raised his past work with bigoted senators, and his previous opposition to a policy combating segregation in schools.
He said she had "mischaracterised" his position, insisting he had entered politics to champion civil rights.He said she had "mischaracterised" his position, insisting he had entered politics to champion civil rights.
The candidates are vying to take on Republican President Donald Trump.The candidates are vying to take on Republican President Donald Trump.
Fireworks also flew in the first debate with 10 other Democrats on Wednesday. Fireworks also flew in the first debate with 10 other contenders on Wednesday.
A winner will be picked among the top 20 contenders at the party convention next summer, before he or she faces Mr Trump in the November 2020 election. The Democratic candidate will be chosen at the party's convention next summer, before he or she faces Mr Trump in the November 2020 election.
How did Biden v Harris unfold?How did Biden v Harris unfold?
The fight of the night erupted midway through Thursday's second forum in Miami, Florida. The fight of the night erupted halfway through Thursday's debate in Miami, Florida.
Ms Harris - the only black woman in the Democratic field - pilloried Mr Biden for this month having cited his work decades ago in the Senate with fellow Democrats who favoured segregation of the races. Ms Harris - the only black woman in the Democratic field - pilloried Mr Biden for having recently reminisced about working with two Democratic senators who favoured racial segregation.
Turning to him, she said: "I do not believe you are a racist and I agree with you when you commit yourself to the importance of finding common ground. Turning to him, she said she did not believe he was a racist, but added: "It was hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators who built their reputations and career on the segregation of race in this country."
"But I also believe, and it's personal and I was actually very, it was hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators who built their reputations and career on the segregation of race in this country." She also took him to task for working "with them [racist senators] to oppose bussing" - a policy of driving white children by bus to majority-black schools and vice versa, in the mid-1970s.
She also took him to task for his political advocacy in the mid-1970s against sending white children by bus to majority-black schools in other neighbourhoods, and vice versa. The policy aimed to undo the negative effects of Jim Crow-era racial segregation. Segregation of public schools was outlawed in 1954, but the racial inequality it fostered persisted.
"And it was not only that," the 54-year-old said, "but you also worked with them [racist senators] to oppose bussing. "And there was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public school and she was bussed to school every day," she said. "And that little girl was me."
"And there was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public school and she was bussed to school every day. And that little girl was me."
Mr Biden bristled: "It's a mischaracterisation of my position across the board. I did not praise racists. That is not true."Mr Biden bristled: "It's a mischaracterisation of my position across the board. I did not praise racists. That is not true."
He said last week he "detested" the segregationists' views. He said last week he "detested" the segregationists' views, following a backlash.
Ms Harris challenged Mr Biden to disavow his past opposition to bussing. He also said he was only against bussing being mandated by the federal government, but had no problem with it at state level.
He insisted he was only against the policy being mandated by the federal government, but had no problem with its implementation at a state level. Mr Biden then brought up his two terms as vice-president to Barack Obama, America's first black president.
Mr Biden brought up his two terms as vice-president to Barack Obama, America's first black commander-in-chief.
Who will take on Trump?Who will take on Trump?
Choose your candidate and filter by categoryChoose your candidate and filter by category
Who else was on stage?Who else was on stage?
Debate-watchers had been expecting a duel between Mr Biden and Bernie Sanders. Debate watchers had been expecting a duel between the two front-runners - Mr Biden, a centrist, and Democratic socialist Bernie Sanders.
Mr Biden, a pragmatic centrist, and Mr Sanders, a Democratic socialist, have been battling for the soul of the party as it ponders how best to take on President Trump. Mr Sanders, the Vermont senator who ran against Hilary Clinton to be the party's candidate in 2016, dominated the first half hour by defending his plans for universal healthcare, and called Mr Trump "a pathological liar and a racist".
Mr Sanders, a Vermont senator, dominated the first half hour by defending his plans for free healthcare for all, and denouncing Mr Trump as "a pathological liar and a racist". Later, Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, faced questions about the fatal shooting of a black man by a white police officer in his home city.
Also in the fray was another top-tier contender, Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year-old gay mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Initially considered a rising star of the race, he conceded at the debate that he had failed to diversify South Bend's police force.
The Harvard-educated military veteran conceded he has failed to diversify the police force in his home city, as he was asked about the recent fatal shooting of a black man by a white officer.
The other six on stage have all been polling at one per cent or less: Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Michael Bennet, former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, congressman Eric Swalwell, self-help guru Marianne Williamson and entrepreneur Andrew Yang.The other six on stage have all been polling at one per cent or less: Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Michael Bennet, former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, congressman Eric Swalwell, self-help guru Marianne Williamson and entrepreneur Andrew Yang.
Mr Trump - who is at a G20 summit in Japan - pounced on his would-be challengers' unanimous support for providing healthcare coverage to undocumented immigrants.Mr Trump - who is at a G20 summit in Japan - pounced on his would-be challengers' unanimous support for providing healthcare coverage to undocumented immigrants.
Where did it all go wrong for Biden?Where did it all go wrong for Biden?
Ms Harris' ambush was not the first time that Mr Biden came under attack in the debate, which was televised to a national audience of millions. Mr Biden, 76, was also confronted on an issue he presents as one of his strengths - political longevity.
The 76-year-old found himself on the defensive early on an issue that he has presented as one of his strengths - political longevity.
Mr Swalwell said: "I was six years old when a presidential candidate came to the California Democratic convention and said, 'It's time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans.'Mr Swalwell said: "I was six years old when a presidential candidate came to the California Democratic convention and said, 'It's time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans.'
"That candidate was then-Senator Joe Biden. Joe Biden was right when he said it was time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans 32 years ago - he's still right today.""That candidate was then-Senator Joe Biden. Joe Biden was right when he said it was time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans 32 years ago - he's still right today."
Mr Biden, who would be the oldest president ever elected, retorted: "I'm still holding on to that torch."Mr Biden, who would be the oldest president ever elected, retorted: "I'm still holding on to that torch."
The former Delaware senator's debate game plan had been to consolidate his status as the front-runner after recent missteps. He has also faced criticism for flip-flopping on abortion rights, and for calling Vice-President Mike Pence "a decent guy".
He has flip-flopped on abortion and recanted after provoking liberal ire for calling Vice-President Mike Pence "a decent guy".
Where did it all go right for Harris?Where did it all go right for Harris?
Ms Harris has been a top-tier candidate since launching her campaign in January, though she has not quite matched the star power of the pack leaders. Ms Harris's confrontation with Mr Biden was not her only standout moment.
She soon grabbed the limelight on Thursday night. The targeting of Mr Biden was not her only standout moment. As the debate unravelled into a free-for-all shouting match, she was cheered for saying: "OK guys, America does not want to witness a food fight - they want to know how we're going to put food on their table!"
As the debate unravelled at one point into a free-for-all shouting match, she was cheered for saying: "OK guys, America does not want to witness a food fight - they want to know how we're going to put food on their table!" At another point she said, emphasising the female pronoun: "I will ensure that this microphone - that the president of the United States holds in her hand - is used in a way that is about reflecting the values of our country."
Railing against President Trump at another point, she said with an emphasis on the female pronoun: "I will ensure that this microphone - that the president of the United States holds in her hand - is used in a way that is about reflecting the values of our country." Ms Harris is not without her own political baggage, however.
Ms Harris - who is the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants - is not without her own political baggage, however. She has had to defend her record as a San Francisco district attorney, amid claims she breached defendants' rights and opposed criminal justice reforms.
On stage, Mr Biden pointed out he had been a defence lawyer, in a veiled jab at her prior career as a public prosecutor.
She has been forced to defend her record as a San Francisco district attorney, amid claims she breached the rights of defendants and opposed criminal justice reforms.
How did the first debate go?How did the first debate go?
Another liberal firebrand, Elizabeth Warren, is widely judged to have cemented her top-tier status in Wednesday night's forum, which was also in Miami. Elizabeth Warren has been praised for her performance in Wednesday's debate, which was also in Miami.
The Massachusetts senator, who has pledged to institute a wealth tax and break up tech giants, railed on stage against nationwide income disparities as "corruption, pure and simple". The Massachusetts senator, who has pledged to institute a wealth tax and break up tech giants, described income inequality in the US as "corruption, pure and simple".
Several lesser-known contenders turned their fire on one another as they vied to emerge from the shadows with only a limited time to make an impression. Meanwhile, several lesser-known contenders fired at each other - united in opposition to Mr Trump, but torn on whether the next president should put the nation on a more left-wing course.
They were united in opposition to Mr Trump, but disagreed on the extent to which the next president should shift the nation on a more liberal course, much like those on Thursday night.
Read more about the other candidatesRead more about the other candidates