MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — The fight for the direction of the Democratic Party played out in prime time on
Monday as some of the party’s leading presidential contenders pushed for different plans for health
care, college debt and whether President Donald Trump should be impeached.
Five 2020 hopefuls were set to address young voters in first-in-the-nation primary state New Hampshire by
night’s end. The first, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, refused to embrace "Medicare for All"
and free college in sharp contrast with many of her competitors.
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, scheduled to take the stage later in the night, has outlined a
detailed plan to offer debt-free college.
"I wish I could staple a free college diploma to every one of your chairs," Klobuchar said.
"I have to be straight with you and tell you the truth."
In the early days of the 2020 presidential primary season, the Democratic Party is beginning the
high-stakes process of deciding what kind of Democrat is best positioned to defeat Trump next year.
Klobuchar represents the more moderate wing of the party, which has resisted calls from the more liberal
wing to fight for free universal health care and free college tuition, among other taxpayer-backed
programs.
Among the candidates set to appear later Monday, Warren and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders have led the
charge on such liberal priorities, while California Sen. Kamala Harris and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor
Pete Buttigieg have more nuanced positions.
CNN did not explain how it chose the five candidates who participated in the first prime-time event
featuring multiple 2020 contenders. The cable network has held prime-time town halls for many of the
candidates, including four of the five who appeared Monday.