DES MOINES — Wooing undecided voters, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on Monday night each cast themselves as life-long champions for tackling economic inequality, but offered differing visions for addressing the nation’s problems.
Sanders, who is riding a burst of enthusiasm in Iowa, reiterated his calls for free tuition at public colleges and universities and implementing a single payer health care system that would cover all Americans, even though he'd raise taxes to pay for the latter proposal.
‘‘Yes, we will raise taxes,’’ said Sanders, an admission rarely heard in presidential campaigns. ‘‘But we are going to eliminate private health insurance premiums for individuals and businesses.’’
Sanders and Clinton spoke separately at a CNN town hall forum, fielding questions predominantly from voters still undecided ahead of the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses, which kick off the nominating process.
Clinton pushed back at suggestions she’s new to the economic issues that have been at the center of Sanders’ bid.
‘‘I think it’s fair to say I have a 40-year record in going after inequality,’’ said Clinton, adding that she’s also fought inequality on the basis of race, gender, and sexual orientation. While the questions she faced where less specific on policy, she emphasized that the tough challenges a president faces — an implicit suggestion that Sanders is proposing unrealistic ideas.
Clinton also embraced favorable comments from President Obama published in Politico Monday which looked very much like an endorsement, though Obama has said he won’t formally back a candidate in the Democratic primary.
While Clinton has led the Democratic field for months, she’s being challenged anew by Sanders in Iowa, as well as in New Hampshire, which votes second in the primary contest.
Former governor Martin O'Malley was cheered enthusiastically at the forum when he cited climate change as the top issue young people in America should be concerned about.
Sanders, an independent from Vermont, has energized young voters in particular with his call for a ‘‘political revolution.’’ Earlier at an event in Iowa Falls, he got personal with supporters. Speaking to about 200 people, he shortened his remarks and turned the floor over to the audience, asking them to discuss life on Social Security benefits and whether they could afford their medication.
Voters discussed a spike in the cost of prescription drugs or problems they face when an insurer doesn’t cover medication.