Under the fire of his Democratic rivals, Sanders poses as a bulwark against Trump

Great favorite of the Democratic primaries, and therefore the main target of its competitors. Attacked by critics during this particularly stormy tenth debate, Bernie Sanders hammered on Tuesday that his far left program could lead him to a victory against Donald Trump in November. The bitter exchanges between the candidates for the democratic nomination were up to the stakes.

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Four days before a crucial vote by the Democratic primaries in South Carolina, many were playing their last chance to stay in the game. Because the result in South Carolina will decisively influence the momentum of the candidates just before "Super Tuesday", when 14 states will vote on March 3.

Bernie Sanders, favorite

Bernie Sanders, 78, has so far been the super-favorite of these primaries, after three votes in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada. His advance has brought to light the divide within the party, between supporters of the self-proclaimed "socialist" senator and supporters of a more central speech, supposed to be able to rally more voters to beat Donald Trump on November 3.

Its more moderate rivals claimed that the funding of its program, too radical in their eyes, remained too vague, in particular on its profound reform of the health system. It would, in their eyes, give ammunition to the outgoing Republican President if Bernie Sanders wore Democratic colors against him.

Read also: Bernie Sanders, this "socialist" from Vermont, who wants to save America

Faced with this barrage of attacks, Bernie Sanders insisted that polls gave him the winner against the Republican president. " The fact is that to beat Trump (...) we need a candidate (driven) by energy and passion, " he said, presenting himself as the only candidate capable of galvanizing the young people and minorities while bringing back " the workers towards the democratic party ". And he insisted that his proposals were not " radical ". They “ exist in countries around the world. Health is a human right ”.

A moderator noted that if elected, Bernie Sanders would be the first Jewish president in the United States. " I am very proud to be Jewish, " he said in a rare allusion to his religion. " But I unfortunately think, tragically, that at the moment in Israel, with Bibi (Benjamin) Netanyahu, a reactionary racist is ruling this country ".

Read also: Democratic primaries: Sanders attacked after his defense of Fidel Castro

The independent senator was again summoned to explain himself for having recently hailed the " massive literacy program " launched by Fidel Castro after the Cuban revolution in the 1950s. He defended himself by claiming that the former Democratic president Barack Obama had made similar comments, before hammering out that he wholeheartedly condemned all authoritarian regimes.

Joe Biden plays it all

Long a favorite but now number two in polls after a heavy crash, former vice president Joe Biden blamed Bernie Sanders for his past gun positions in controversial US Congress votes.

Read also: Joe Biden, who calls himself a "Senate candidate", accumulates blunders before a key vote

Playing very big in South Carolina, Joe Biden, 77, wanted to be combative. The former right-hand man of Barack Obama puts almost everything on this state, after two pitiful scores in Iowa and New Hampshire. " I will win South Carolina, " he insisted. He raised his head in Nevada and now hopes that his popularity among blacks will lead him to a victory in South Carolina, where they represent more than half of the Democratic electorate. But his lead in this state has narrowed in recent weeks.

Pete Buttigieg down speed

" I'm going to tell you what the bill [from Sanders] will be." The bill will be another four years for Donald Trump, "said Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend. Mr. Buttigieg, 38, is the first homosexual to have a chance of winning the nomination after a good score in the first two elections.

He once again wanted to present himself as an alternative for the future in the face of a Bernie Sanders with " nostalgia for revolutionary policies in the 1960s ". But it lacks support among minorities, which leads it to polls in South Carolina.

More combative Michael Bloomberg

After a failed first appearance last week, the billionaire Michael Bloomberg faced on a firmer foot the attacks always fed by other contenders for the White House. He defended himself against accusations of sexism and policies deemed discriminatory when he was mayor of New York.

To read also: "The candidacy of Michael Bloomberg will reopen the divisions of the Democratic camp"

Third in the national polls, the former mayor of New York, 78, will enter the race during "Super Tuesday", after having drawn more than $ 500 million in his personal fortune to finance his campaign. His television spots were also shown during the breaks of the debate.

Elizabeth Warren in perilous situation

" It doesn't matter how much money Mr. Bloomberg has. The heart of the Democrat Party will never trust him, "said Elizabeth Warren of the former Republican.

In a very perilous situation after three bad results, the progressive senator Elizabeth Warren, 70 years old, also exhausted on this point Bernie Sanders, presenting herself as the best alternative on the left. But polls show for the moment its fairly left positioning, which wanted to embody an intermediate position between Sanders and Biden, does not seem to convince the electorate.