The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Election 2020 highlights Democrats jockey for support ahead of S.C. primary

Seven of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates shared the stage in Charleston, S.C., on Feb. 25 in the last debate ahead of the South Carolina primary. (Video: The Washington Post)

The Democratic presidential candidates jockeyed for position in South Carolina on Wednesday after a contentious debate the night before in Charleston in which they sparred over key policy areas including health-care costs, gun control and foreign affairs in a testy debate — and talked over one another a lot.

Biden picked up a key endorsement the morning after the debate from House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.), a kingmaker in Palmetto State politics. The debate came ahead of a key primary this weekend in South Carolina and a rapid acceleration in the race for the nomination next week, on Super Tuesday, when 14 states and two other jurisdictions hold nominating contests.

Seven Democrats took the stage for the 10th Democratic debate: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.); former vice president Joe Biden; former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg; Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.); Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Minn.); investor Tom Steyer; and former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg. Several candidates attacked Sanders for the costs of his health-care proposals, and others squared off with Bloomberg over a range of policy matters, including his massive wealth.  
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