Watch Democratic Presidential Debate

On October 13, 2015, CNN hosted the Democratic Presidential Debate from Various, featuring five of the top contenders for the Democratic nomination: Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Martin O'Malley, Jim Webb, and Lincoln Chafee. The debate was moderated by Anderson Cooper, with additional questions from Dana Bash.

The debate began with opening statements from each candidate, where they set the tone for the rest of the night. Clinton spoke about her experience and qualifications for the presidency, while Sanders focused on income inequality and his record of fighting for the middle class. O'Malley emphasized his record as the former governor of Maryland, while Webb spoke about his military service and Chafee discussed his record as the former governor of Rhode Island.

One of the main topics of discussion during the debate was the economy, with each candidate offering their own plans for creating jobs and boosting economic growth. Clinton stressed the importance of raising the minimum wage and investing in infrastructure, while Sanders advocated for higher taxes on the wealthy and free public college education. O'Malley proposed a plan to create 5 million new jobs and increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour, while Webb focused on creating new opportunities for small businesses. Chafee discussed the need for a stable, strong economy and his record of balancing budgets as governor.

Foreign policy was also a major theme of the debate, with the candidates discussing issues such as the Iran nuclear deal, ISIS, and Russia's involvement in Syria. Clinton emphasized the importance of diplomacy and working with international partners, while Sanders argued against putting troops on the ground in the fight against ISIS. O'Malley called for a more aggressive approach to combating ISIS, while Webb advocated for increased military spending and creating a clear strategy for dealing with Syria. Chafee criticized Clinton for her vote in support of the Iraq War and argued for a more peace-focused foreign policy.

Another key topic of discussion during the debate was gun control, with each candidate offering their own solutions for reducing gun violence in America. Clinton spoke about the need for expanded background checks and closing the gun show loophole, while Sanders took a more nuanced approach, emphasizing the need to balance gun control with protecting the rights of responsible gun owners. O'Malley called for a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, while Webb stressed the importance of enforcing existing gun laws. Chafee discussed his record of supporting gun control measures as governor of Rhode Island.

Throughout the debate, each candidate had the opportunity to challenge one another on their records and policies, leading to some heated exchanges between the candidates. However, overall the debate was civil and substantive, with each candidate presenting their own vision and ideas for America's future.

In the end, the Democratic Presidential Debate from Various offered voters a chance to hear from each of the top Democratic candidates and compare their positions on a range of important issues. With the general election still more than a year away, the debate provided an early glimpse into the Democratic primaries and what voters could expect from each candidate.