Democratic Debate Highlights

The former secretary of state was the only one on stage Saturday night who looked like she could step into the presidency tomorrow. Her knowledge on foreign policy -- from ISIS to Syria and beyond -- was significantly greater than her rivals, and it showed. (ABC moderator Martha Raddatz was the only one on stage confident enough in her own knowledge of foreign policy to go after Clinton.)

Clinton also demonstrated her ability to play to local interests -- she touted Market Basket, which is based in Tewksbury, Mass., for example. She repeatedly turned the focus away from the differences among the candidates on stage and instead pointed out the differences she and the other Democratic candidates have with controversial Republican front-runner Donald Trump. She showed a sense of humor; asked by ABC moderator David Muir whether "corporate America should love Hillary Clinton. "Everyone should," she responded to raucous applause in the room.

And, she demonstrated a willingness to whack away at O'Malley (on his acceptance of corporate dollars as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association) and Sanders (on the cost of his proposals) -- showing that she was not content to sit back and play defense.

Clinton's performance proved, yet again, how gifted she is as a debater. 

Her closing statement -- invoking the new "Star Wars" movie -- was the cherry on top of a tour de force performance.

Sanders apologizes for data breach

Right out of the gate, Sen. Bernie Sanders apologized for this week's data breach, in which Sanders campaign staffers improperly accessed voter data from Hillary Clinton's campaign. And Clinton accepted his apology.

“Yes, I apologize,” Sanders said. “Not only do I apologize to Secretary Clinton and I hope we can work on an independent investigation, I apologize to my supporters.”

Clinton said she was looking forward to moving beyond the scuffle.

Clinton: Trump is ISIL’s ‘best recruiter’

All of the candidates pivoted to attack Donald Trump again and again during the debate, repeatedly using him as a foil. At one point, Clinton contrasted Trump’s rhetoric on fighting Islamic terrorists with former President George W. Bush's repeated statements that the United States was not at war with all Muslims.

“George W. Bush has done this, I give him credit,” Clinton said before saying that Trump is becoming ISIS’s best recruiter. "They are going to people showing videos of Donald Trump insulting Islam and Muslims in order to recruit more radical jihadists."

Clinton: U.S. "where we need to be" on ISIS

Clinton sounded an optimistic note on the country's ability to handle the threat of ISIS: "We now finally are where we need to be. We have a strategy and a commitment to go after ISIS, which is a danger to us as well as the region."

The comments followed talk about the challenge of Syria: "I think it's fair to say, Assad has killed, by last count, about 250,000 Syrians. The reason we are in the mess we're in, that ISIS has the territory it has, is because of Assad. I advocated arming the moderate opposition back in the day when I was still secretary of State, because I worried we would end up exactly where we are now. And so, when we look at these complex problems, I wish it could be either/or. I wish we could say yes, let's go destroy ISIS and let's let Assad continue to destroy Syria, which creates more terrorists, more extremists by the minute. No. We now finally are where we need to be."

Clinton calls for gun control as part of terrorism response

Asked about how to handle the threat of domestic and lone-wolf terrorism after the San Bernardino attacks, Clinton brought gun control into the conversation: "If you only think about the coalition abroad, you’re missing the point because we need a coalition at home. … Arming more people – to do what? – I think is not the appropriate response to terrorism."

Once again, Clinton hit out at Trump: "I worry greatly that the rhetoric coming from Republicans, particularly Donald Trump, is sending a message to Muslims in the United states and around the world that there is … a war against Islam.

Clinton splits with New Hampshire's governor on halting refugees

Asked about Democratic New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan’s call for the federal government to stop accepting Syrian refugees, Clinton split with the popular governor, who has endorsed Clinton and is running for Senate in 2016.

'Everybody should'

Clinton answered a question about her ties to big business with a laugh line. When Muir asked if corporate America should “love Clinton,” she replied: "Everybody should." (The crowd laughed.) "I have said I want to be the president for the struggling, the striving, and successful."

When the question turned to Sanders (would corporate America love a President Sanders?), the Vermont senator took a different route.

“No, I think they won’t,” Sanders said, again sparking laughter. “I don’t think I’m going to get a whole lot of campaign contributions from Wall Street.”

The role of the first lady — or gentleman

Clinton was asked if her husband would take on the traditional role that first ladies have played if the former secretary of State and former President Bill Clinton make it back to the White House. After praisng first ladies that came before and after her, the Democratic frontrunner said, “I am probably still going to pick the flowers and the china for state dinners and things like that.” But Clinton added that she would still go to her husband for advice in the same way that other presidents have with their spouses.

Sanders praised Clinton for redefining the role of presidential spouse and talked about his wife's work with youth, while O'Malley said it was up to his wife if she would continue her work as a district court judge in the event that he becomes president.

May The Force Be With You

Clinton had the last word Saturday night, and her sign-off was stranger than (science) fiction.

"Thank you, good night, and may the Force be with you," she said, an homage to the release of the new Star Wars movie.

Source: politico.com/