Democratic U.S. presidential contenders battled over health care coverage and border policy on Wednesday during a surprisingly heated first debate that laid bare the party's divisions on whether to abolish private insurance and shift to a "Medicare-for-All" system.
In the first round of back-to-back debates, several of the lesser-known candidates vied for attention in the crowded race to take on Republican President Donald Trump, shouting over one another to grab the spotlight and prove they are capable of standing up to Trump in the November 2020 election.
All 10 Democratic contenders on stage repeatedly attacked Trump, saying his economic policies benefited the wealthy at the expense of working Americans, and calling his border policies heartless.