Democratic presidential contenders battled over healthcare coverage during a surprisingly heated first debate on Wednesday, laying 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 contenders also clashed over border policy as some of the lesser-known candidates vied for attention in the crowded race to take on Republican President Donald Trump in the November 2020 election. Candidates at times shouted over each other, battling to grab the spotlight and prove to Democratic activists they are capable of standing up to Trump.
