Democratic debate: Biden, Warren and Sanders spar over healthcare

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Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden and close rivals Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have feuded over healthcare at the party's third debate.The debate in Houston, Texas, is the first time the three presidential hopefuls have been on stage together.Mr Biden attacked the feasibility of Mr Sanders' universal healthcare plan, Medicare for All, while Ms Warren and Mr Sanders defended the measure.Only the 10 highest-polling Democrats in the field of 20 are on stage.The keyissues for 2020 DemocratsAre votersbiasedagainstwomencandidates The eventual Democratic WhiteHousenominee will beannounced at the party convention next July, before the presidential election in NovemberGun control, immigration and tariffs were also debated - but heathcare saw the fieriest clashes.What is the healthcare debate The issue of how to reform the US healthcare system has become a point of disagreement between moderate and more progressive Democrats.The exchanges saw the two most left-leaning candidates, Mr Sanders and Ms Warren, face criticism from other candidates.Mr Biden criticised Mr Sanders' Medicare for All plan as being too expensive to work and said the country should focus on improving President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act instead.Can Bernie Sanders overhaul US healthcare Medicare for All would expand an existing federally run programme for the elderly to cover all Americans in a single-payer insurance system. The federal government would be the sole insurance provider, but it would not own or operate hospitals.Ms Warren defended the policy, saying families have to deal with exorbitant healthcare bills now, and only wealthier individuals and corporations would see increased costs from the plan.How about gun controlFormer congressman Beto O'Rourke, whose hometown El Paso wasthe site of a mass shooting that left 20 dead, was asked whether he supports confiscating assault-style rifles."Hell yes we're going to take your AR-15, your AK 47," Mr O'Rourke said to applause. "We're not going to allow it to be used against your fellow Americans anymore On gun control Senator Kamala Harris drew President Trump into the debate, saying: "Obviously he didn't pull the trigger, but he's certainly been tweeting out the ammunition."In the opening remarks most of the candidates attacked President Trump, blasting him for being a divisive leader and accusing him of racism.Businessman Andrew Yang used his opening speech to announce he would be using donations to his campaign to start a "freedom dividend", giving $1,000 (£810) a month to 10 American families, prompting laughter from other candidates.