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In tight race, Democrats debate passion versus practicality

Democratic presidential candidate, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley answers questions in the spin room following the NBC, YouTube Democratic presidential debate at the Gaillard Center, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, in Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)
Democratic presidential candidate, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley answers questions in the spin room following the NBC, YouTube Democratic presidential debate at the Gaillard Center, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, in Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) Democratic presidential candidate, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley answers questions in the spin room following the NBC, YouTube Democratic presidential debate at the Gaillard Center, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, in Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)

By Associated Press 1 min read

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) – With just two weeks to go before the first votes of the 2016 race for president, Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders engaged in their most contentious debate match-up to date. The confrontation underscores their tightening primary race as the Iowa caucuses draw near.

The pair tangled repeatedly Sunday night over who’s tougher on gun control and Wall Street and how to shape the future of health care in America.

Their heated rhetoric highlighted the central question fueling the increasingly competitive primary race: Will the Sanders passion beat out the Clinton practicality?

While Clinton remains the national front-runner, grassroots enthusiasm for Sanders’ outsider candidacy and his unapologetically liberal message has imperiled her lead in Iowa and expanded his advantage in New Hampshire.

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Associated Press Writer Nancy Benac reported from Washington