Clinton, Sanders face off in New York debate

[NEW YORK] Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders face off Thursday in a closely watched US presidential debate ahead of the key New York primary in the increasingly acrimonious Democratic race for the White House.

The former secretary of state holds a double-digit lead over the Vermont senator in polls and needs a big win in next Tuesday's primary after losing seven of the last eight contests to her leftist rival.

The Brooklyn-born, self-described Democratic socialist is similarly dreaming of a shock win in Mrs Clinton's adopted home state to keep alive his dream of wresting the nomination from the Democratic frontrunner.

It makes for a dramatic showdown in a state in which both claim close ties. New York is the state that elected Mrs Clinton twice to the US Senate, and Mr Sanders was born and brought up in Brooklyn.

"I think it will be lively," Mrs Clinton predicted of the debate - their first since March 9 and scheduled at Mr Sanders' insistence, looking to close his trailing gap behind the former first lady.

Addressing a huge rally in New York's Washington Square Wednesday, Mr Sanders attacked Mrs Clinton for her ties to Wall Street, her support for trade deals that have cost US jobs and for the 2003 Iraq invasion.

"This is going to be tough primary for us but when I look at the thousands of people who are here... I think that if we have a large voter turnout on Tuesday we're going to win this state," he said.

The 68-year-old Mrs Clinton and 74-year-old Mr Sanders have traded increasingly heated blows in recent days.

Mr Sanders, whose call for a revolution has ignited a passionate youth following, was forced to backtrack after questioning Mrs Clinton's qualifications for the nation's top office.

Mrs Clinton has lashed out at Mr Sanders over gun control and immigration reform, and accused him of dodging questions on the campaign trail.

Thursday's debate will be moderated by CNN and kicks off at 9:00 pm (0100 GMT Friday) at the Duggal Greenhouse, a fashionable venue that has hosted events for the likes of Alexander Wang and Lady Gaga.

Mrs Clinton has a commanding advantage over Mr Sanders with 1,790 delegates to his 1,113. A total of 2,383 delegates are needed to secure the party's nomination for the presidency inm the party's convention this summer.

There are 291 Democratic delegates up for grabs in New York, where minorities and wealthy Democrats are likely to favor Mrs Clinton, although Mr Sanders appears to have cut into her lead in more economically disadvantaged communities, white males and young voters.

A Siena Research Institute poll released Wednesday said Mr Sanders narrowed Mrs Clinton's lead to 52-42 per cent from 55-34 per cent on March 7 among registered Democrats.

"The younger voters are feeling the 'Bern' but the question is, will they come out and vote in large numbers, as older voters historically do?" said Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg.

The rules of the New York primary are also likely to favor Mrs Clinton. Only those previously registered with the Democrat or Republican party can vote, and only for a candidate running on that party's ticket.

Primaries open to independent voters typically favor Mr Sanders, the longest serving independent member of Congress in the United States, who appeals to floating voters as well as progressive Democrats.

The upshot is that New York, an overwhelmingly Democrat state whose primaries traditionally have little influence on presidential elections, may play its most decisive role in decades.

With Republican frontrunner Donald Trump potentially facing a contested nomination and Mrs Clinton a tighter national race than she would have liked, the votes on both sides could prove decisive.

Mr Trump, the Manhattan tycoon, leads New York Republican voters 55 per cent to Ohio governor John Kasich's 20 per cent. Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who was roundly condemned for denigrating what he called "New York values", has 19 per cent, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll.

While the Democrats debate, the Republican candidates will be guests at a Republican gala at a posh Manhattan hotel.

AFP