What the Democratic Debate Showed

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders faced off one-on-one for the first time Thursday night as the gloves came off in the fight for the GOP nomination. The heated debate saw clashes over foreign policy, Wall Street, and the definition of “progressive.” Clinton accused Sanders of engaging in a “very artful smear” of her by questioning her donations from Wall Street, while criticizing Sanders’ narrow definition of the term progressive, that appeared to exclude President Barack Obama. Sanders struggled to debate Clinton on foreign policy, repeatedly relying on his 2002 vote against the Iraq War to avoid specifics and at one point suggesting North Korea is run by multiple dictators.

But he cast Clinton as a member of the Establishment, and himself as of the people. The Democratic Party divide is a clash between idealism and pragmatism, and at least in New Hampshire, getting stuff done is taking a back seat to imagining how they should be. Clinton is a longshot in the Granite State, and aides hope to narrow Sanders’ lead to single digits. But with an organization built to go the distance and Sanders’ struggles with minority voters, Clinton remains the far-and-away front-runner for the nomination.

Jeb Bush deployed his mother, former First Lady Barbara Bush, on the campaign trail Thursday and Friday in hopes she will provide him a boost in New Hampshire, where he must perform strongly if he hopes to continue his campaign. He’s getting another boost from a key member of his family. Former President George W. Bush is appearing in an ad for his super PAC, before preparing to hit the ground for his brother in South Carolina, where he is still deeply popular. Meanwhile, a new ad from a pro-Rubio super PAC declares that “Jeb can’t win” in 2016.

Ted Cruz is using another former president in a campaign ad, featuring Jimmy Carter’s statement that he’d vote for Donald Trump before Cruz to cast Trump as inconsistent. And Chris Christie is using former candidate Rick Santorum‘s less-than-successful endorsement of Marco Rubio against the surging Republican candidate in a new ad. And Carly Fiorina doesn’t make the cut for the final debate before New Hampshire.

John Kasich is getting help from the Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who donated to his campaign and will participate in a live tele-town hall Friday evening. Jeb Bush defends Obama’s mosque visit as Rubio and Donald Trump pounce. And how Trump explains his platform through profanity.

Here are your must-reads:

Must Reads

Clinton and Sanders Tangle in New Hampshire
A heated debate ahead of the primary [TIME]

Bernie Sanders Made Jewish History, Yet No One Seems To Be Kvelling
New Hampshire’s Jews — yes, they exist — aren’t even talking about it [Huffington Post]

Barbara Bush Campaigns for Jeb as He Seeks Boost in New Hampshire
“He’s decent and honest. He’s everything we need in a President” [TIME]

Fiorina Struggles to Connect With New Hampshire Women
TIME’s Jay Newton-Small on her struggles with a key demographic

Bush Defends Obama Mosque Visit From Rubio, Trump Criticism
Says he doesn’t know why it took Obama so long [TIME]

Sound Off

“I mean, unbelievable. I don’t know how women can vote for someone who said what he said about Megyn Kelly. And we knew what he meant too!” — Barbara Bush to CBS News on Donald Trump

“I’ve heard Senator Sanders’ comments, and it’s really caused me to wonder who’s left in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Under his definition, President Obama is not progressive because he took donations from Wall Street; Vice President Biden is not progressive because he supported Keystone. You know, we have differences and, honestly, I think we should be talk about what we want to do for the country.” — Hillary Clinton in the Democratic debate

“North Korea is a very strange situation because it is such an isolated country run by a handful of dictators — or maybe just one.” — Bernie Sanders in the Democratic debate

Bits and Bites

Hillary Clinton Outraised By Bernie Sanders in January [TIME]

Cruz Uses Jimmy Carter in Anti-Trump Ad [TIME]

Pharma ‘Bad Boy’ Martin Shkreli Mocks Congress [TIME]

Former NAACP Chief to Endorse Bernie Sanders [TIME]

Charlie Baker to Endorse Chris Christie [Boston Globe]

Questions Surround Marco Rubio’s Role at Florida College [NBC]

Branstad Says Cruz Employed ‘Unethical and Unfair’ Tactics Monday Night [Radio Iowa]

Ben Carson Slashes Staff as Funds Dry Up [Washington Post]

George W. Bush Cuts Television Ad Backing His Brother [Politico]

How Donald Trump Explains His Platform Through Profanity [TIME]

Jeb Bush Wants Detractors to ‘Take a Chill Pill’ [NBC]

A Day on the Campaign Trail With Marco Rubio, And His Well-Honed Stump Speech [Miami Herald]

Watch the Fifth Democratic Debate in Under Four Minutes [TIME]

How the Fight Over Wall Street Shows the Democratic Divide [TIME]

Clinton Campaign Warns Sanders Against ‘Bernie Bros’ Attacks [Bloomberg]

Carly Fiorina Excluded From Next GOP Debate [Politico]