Democratic Presidential Debate Round 2 Day 2 Highlights | NBC New York

Ten Democratic primary candidates took the stage Wednesday night in Detroit. Here are the top moments and fact checks.

The ideological divisions gripping the Democratic Party intensified as presidential candidates waged an acrimonious battle over health care, immigration and race that tested the strength of early front-runner Joe Biden's candidacy.

The attacks on Biden in the second presidential debate were most vivid coming from California Sen. Kamala Harris, who declared that his willingness to work with segregationists in the U.S. Senate during the 1970s could have had dramatic consequences on the surge of minority candidates in political office. And, she said, it could have prevented her and fellow presidential candidate Cory Booker, both of whom are black, from becoming senators.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was also targeted with hecklers shouting "Fire Pantaleo," the New York City police officer officials opted not to charge in the death of Eric Garner. Garner's family and others have demanded that de Blasio fire Pantaleo after federal prosecutors announced they would not bring civil rights charges in the case.

On the debate stage Wednesday night, de Blasio criticized the federal government for its lengthy investigation into Garner's death. He said the state couldn't proceed with the case until the federal investigation finished.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand also chimed in on the issue, saying if she was the mayor, she'd fire Pantaleo.



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