Candidates Take on New Frontrunner Warren

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., as the new frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, fended off attacks from all sides during Tuesday night's Democratic debate, reflecting her new place in the polls.

The main attacks came from South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and ex-Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-Texas, on many of her plans, particularly on her refusal to say if she would raise taxes on the middle class for Medicare for All, reports The Atlantic.

"I will not sign a bill into law that does not lower costs for middle-class families," Warren said, drawing criticism from her rivals. 

"We heard it tonight: a yes or no question that didn't get a yes or no answer," said Buttigieg, who often referred to Warren as a "Washington politician."

"Your signature, senator, is to have a plan for everything, except this," he said. "No plan has been laid out to explain how a multi-trillion-dollar hole in this Medicare for All plan that Sen. Warren is putting forward is supposed to get filled in."

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., however, acknowledged taxes would go up to pay for Medicare for All insurance, and Klobuchar, D-Minn., commended him for saying that.

"I think we owe it to the American people to tell them where we will send the invoice," she said.

O'Rourke meanwhile, slammed Warren's plan for a wealth tax on assets over $50 million, calling her "punitive," to which Warren expressed shock.

"I don't have a beef with billionaires,” Warren responded. 

Klobuchar also challenged Warren on her stance on a wealth tax, saying she wanted to give her a "reality check" and alluding to hedge fund executive Tom Steyer, who was attending his first debate.

"No one on this stage wants to protect billionaires," she said. "Not even the billionaire wants to protect billionaires. We just have different approaches."

• Morning Consult Poll: Biden Leads Warren by 12 Points
• Poll: College Students Favor Warren for President