Rivals try to undermine Biden in second debate

Democratic front-runner Joe Biden had to fend off attacks on his record during a divisive debate in Detroit Wednesday night. His rivals repeatedly challenged his stances on healthcare, climate change, and abortion, and for his part in Obama administration policies on immigration and trade. Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro accused Biden of not having “learned the lessons of the past” for rejecting progressive plans to decriminalize illegal immigration. “If you cross the border illegally, you should be able to be sent back; it’s a crime,” the former vice president responded.

How did he take the heat? Biden went on the offensive, criticizing Sen. Cory Booker for his policing practices in Newark, N.J., and Sen. Kamala Harris for her healthcare plan. Other candidates also faced scrutiny over their records. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said Harris should apologize for defending the death penalty and putting people in jail over marijuana violations during her time as a prosecutor in San Francisco.

Dig deeper: Read my report on Tuesday’s debate, where progressive and moderate candidates sparred over policy, but the two far-left front-runners, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, refused to go after each other.