Senator Bernie Sanders engaged in a strong debate with Democratic Party presidential rival Hillary Clinton over migration reform and deportations in Miami, Florida last night.
While both the democrats made strong appeal before the Hispanic voters, they also pressed that each would be strongest candidate against Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump in the crucial general election this November.
The former secretary of state in a bid to lure the Hispanic audience portrayed herself as the defender of immigrant parents and children argued that Sanders was not a fighter in the issue and criticised him for opposing a 2007 bill that would have created a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants in the country.
"We had Republican support. We had a president willing to sign it. I voted for that bill. Senator Sanders voted against it," New York Times quoted Clinton as saying.
While Sanders explained that he thought the guest worker provisions in the bill were akin to slavery, Clinton refused to let him up. Instead she accused him of supporting vigilantes known as Minutemen who were taking up outposts along the border to hunt down immigrants.
Sanders reiterated, "No, I do not support vigilantes - that is a horrific statement, an unfair statement to make. Madam Secretary, I will match my record against yours any day of the week."
Clinton stuck to her promise to knock down barriers in employment and housing and to champion criminal justice reform and Social Security in a hope to inspire Hispanics, African-Americans and the elderly which could deliver her victories in Florida and North Carolina.
Meanwhile, Sanders' rallied cried against the rigged economy and establishment politics mainly aiming at the liberals, young people, working-class white voters who could be decisive for him in Ohio, Illinois and Missouri.
Sanders' win in Michigan is too early decide if the similar win is achieved in Ohio and Illinois, where Clinton has had double-digit leads in polls.
"Secretary Clinton prevailed upon the governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer, who wanted to do the right thing and provide driver's licenses to those who were undocumented, She said, 'Don't do it,' and New York State still does not do it," New York Times quoted sanders' as saying.
Sanders also noted that he supported children from war-torn Central American countries to enter the United States.
While both the Democrats consistently praised President Barrack Obama, both vowed to end mass deportations of his administration.
Clinton and Sanders also sought to be perceived as the more formidable challenger to New York billionaire Trump.
Clinton argued that Trump was promoting 'un-American views' and promised to take every opportunity to criticize him, Sanders mentioned polls that showed him beating Mr. Trump in theoretical matchups for the general election.
He also argued that he could convince Democratic Party leaders and elected officials that he is the strongest candidate to defeat Trump.
Meanwhile, on being asked by the debate moderator, Jorge Ramos, if Clinton would drop out of the presidential race if she were indicted on charges related to her use of a private email server as secretary of state.
Clinton at first ignored the question, but when followed by the moderators, she abruptly dismissed the question saying I am not even answering that question.
