Bernie Sanders gave in to a moment’s frustration last night as he shushed Hillary Clinton during the Democratic debate in Michigan.
“Excuse me, I’m talking,” he growled when Mrs Clinton interrupted him, “You’ll have your turn.”
The candidates sparred over trade, gun laws and racial issues in Flint, a mainly black city that is suffering as manufacturing jobs dwindle and a health crisis grows.
Mr Sanders entered the debate with some momentum after winning two primary contests on Saturday in Kansas and Nebraska. During the debate, it was announced that he had also won Sunday’s caucus in Maine.
He trails Mrs Clinton in delegates by a wide margin, however, with 498 to her 1,129.
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Of the four votes held over the weekend, the former secretary of state won only Louisiana, but it was the biggest prize, yielding the most delegates.
In Michigan, which votes tomorrow, she leads Mr Sanders in the polls, with 57 per cent to 40 per cent.
Yesterday Mrs Clinton criticised the senator for voting against a 2009 bailout package for the car industry, much of which is centred in Michigan. Mr Sanders, a self-styled democratic socialist, challenged her past support for a punitive crime bill that critics say has resulted in the mass imprisonment of black Americans.
Voters from Flint and nearby cities questioned the candidates on their plans to address economic opportunity and fix a lead poisoning crisis in the city. For the first time, Mrs Clinton called for Rick Snyder, the Republican Michigan governor, to resign. It was one of the few areas in which both candidates were in agreement.
Her performance drew applause and she appears to be well positioned to win the nomination. Earlier, she reminded journalists that she has received more votes so far than any other candidate. “I’ve gotten more votes than Donald Trump,” she said.
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Mr Sanders will not be discounted, however, and has the funds to continue campaigning.
“I don’t want to disturb the media narrative too much — don’t get people too upset, but don’t write us off,” Mr. Sanders said.
“I think we have a path toward victory.”