US Democrats battle in high stakes TV debate

Ten Democratic candidates are facing off in the first TV debate of the race to oust President Donald Trump from the White House next year.

Elizabeth Warren, a liberal firebrand who has been gaining momentum, is taking centre stage at the primetime forum in Miami, Florida.

The debate offers much-needed political oxygen to underdogs such as Cory Booker and Beto O’Rourke.

Ten other Democrats in the crowded field will battle on Thursday night.

Millions of voters are expected to tune in for America’s biggest political debates in years. The first began at 21:00 (01:00 GMT) on Wednesday and lasts two hours.

Who’s first up?

Ms Warren, a Massachusetts senator, is looking to cement her surge in opinion polls after unveiling a plethora of policy proposals such as free universal healthcare, higher taxes on the rich and breaking up tech giants.

“Who is this economy really working for?” she said in response to the first question. “It’s doing great for a thinner and thinner slice at the top.”

She attacked drug and oil giants and prison contractors before concluding to a big cheer from the studio audience: “We need to make structural change in our government, in our economy and in our country.”

The other nine candidates on stage are vying to grab some crucial limelight, possibly by taking aim at pack leaders such as Ms Warren.

Mr Booker won airtime last week when he pilloried Democratic front-runner Joe Biden for touting his work with racist senators decades ago.

But the New Jersey senator has so far failed to break into the top tier.

Mr O’Rourke became a liberal golden boy during an unsuccessful Senate bid last year, but the former congressman’s White House hopes have so far fizzled.

On stage, too, will be Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar; former Obama housing secretary Julian Castro, the only Latino in the race; New York Mayor Bill de Blasio; Representatives Tulsi Gabbard and Tim Ryan; Washington state Governor Jay Inslee; and former congressman John Delaney.

They are all at one per cent or lower in opinion polls.

All the top 20 candidates need to demonstrate they have the electoral viability and political grit to defeat the Republican president.

Where will the president be?

Mr Trump, who is running for a second year in office, has said he will watch the debate aboard Air Force One as he flies to Japan for a G20 summit.

“Yes, everyone said I’ll be tweeting,” he told Fox Business Network.

He added: “Do I want to watch it? Do I want to watch these people? That’s a very unexciting group of people.”

He also jabbed at his leading challenger.

“Biden is a lost soul,” Mr Trump said. “He doesn’t know where he is.”