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MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) Democratic presidential front-runners Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg beat back a barrage of attacks during a debate as rivals raised persistent questions about their ideology and experience, hoping to sow doubts about their ability to defeat President Donald Trump.

Reeling from a weak finish in this weeks Iowa caucuses, former Vice President Joe Biden was a chief aggressor throughout Friday night. He questioned Sanders status as a democratic socialist and said Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, doesnt have the background to lead in a complicated world. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who is struggling to break into the top tier, voiced similar criticisms.

But Sanders and Buttigieg, who are essentially tied in Iowa, largely brushed off the broadsides.

Donald Trump lies all the time, Sanders said in response to suggestions that Trump would use his self-described identity as a democratic socialist to brand him and all Democrats as radical.

Buttigieg sought to turn skepticism of his resume into a positive, portraying himself as a fresh face from outside Washington with experience in dealing with real-life problems and ready to lead a weary nation in a new direction.

Im interested in the style of the politics we need to put forward to actually finally turn the page, Buttigieg said. He added a jab at Biden: I freely admit that if youre looking for the person with the most years of Washington establishment experience under their belt, youve got your candidate, and of course its not me.

Friday marked the eighth and perhaps most consequential debate in the Democratic Partys yearlong quest for a presidential nominee. The prime-time affair came just four days after Iowas chaotic caucuses -- and four days before New Hampshires primary -- with several candidates facing pointed questions about their political survival. While several candidates had strong moments, it was unclear the event would change the trajectory of the campaign.

Biden was especially explicit about the state of his candidacy during the opening moments, predicting he would take a hit in New Hampshire next week before the contest moves into more diverse states where he hopes to perform better.

He faced criticism on stage as someone too steeped in the ways of Washington to represent the change many Democratic voters say they are seeking. He responded by once again aligning himself with former President Barack Obama.

The politics of the past I think were not all that bad, Biden said. I dont know what about the past about Barack Obama and Joe Biden was so bad.

But Biden had to defend his long record as the candidates sparred over the decision nearly two decades ago to send U.S. troops to Iraq.

Biden acknowledged anew that his vote in favor of the war authorization as a senator was a mistake, while Sanders said his Senate vote against deploying troops was proof of his judgment on national security issues. Buttigieg, who was in college at the time and later served in Afghanistan, said he would have opposed the war, too.

While the debate was heated at times, there were moments of unity with candidates aware that Democratic primary voters have little desire to see an all-out intraparty brawl. When a moderator asked Klobuchar to respond to Hillary Clintons comments that no one likes Sanders, Biden walked over and gave him a hug. Klobuchar, meanwhile, joked that Sanders is just fine and noted times when they had worked together on policy.

A somber Biden was appreciative when Buttigieg defended him and his son, Hunter Biden, against attacks from Trump in the impeachment inquiry.

And while Biden challenged Sanders embrace of a version of socialism, most of his rivals seemed willing to overlook that political identity. When the moderator asked whether any of the candidates would have a problem with a democratic socialist as their partys presidential nominee, only Klobuchar raised her hand.

Warren avoided any direct criticism of her rivals and repeatedly pivoted to her core anti-corruption message. As Biden, Sanders and Klobuchar fought about the best way forward on health care, Warren did not engage, instead speaking broadly about the need to lower prescription drug costs.

Billionaire activist Tom Steyer and New York entrepreneur Andrew Yang, meanwhile, were fighting to prove they belong in the conversation.

Traditionally, the knives come out during this phase in the presidential primary process.

It was the pre-New Hampshire debate four years ago on the Republican side when then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie devastated Florida Sen. Marco Rubios presidential ambitions with a well-timed take-down. Rubio never recovered, making it easier for Donald Trump to emerge as his partys presidential nominee.

The stakes were particularly high for Biden, who has played front-runner in virtually every one of the previous seven debates but left Iowa in a distant fourth place. While reporting problems have blunted the impact of the Iowa contest, Bidens weakness rattled supporters who encouraged him to take an aggressive tack Friday night.

Klobuchar made a passionate pitch to moderate-minded voters unhappy with Biden and Buttigieg.

Im not a political newcomer with no record, but I have a record of fighting for people, she said. I know you and Ill fight for you.

The seven-person field highlighted the evolution of the Democrats 2020 nomination fight, which began with more than two dozen candidates and has been effectively whittled down to a handful of top-tier contenders.

There are clear dividing lines based on ideology, age and gender. But just one of the candidates on stage, Yang, was an ethnic minority.

Campaigning in one of the whitest states in the nation, Steyer repeatedly highlighted his support for reparations for African-Americans to make up for the impacts of slavery. His steady focus on race Friday was a reminder that hes invested heavily in South Carolina, where black voters are expected to play a deciding role and are central to Bidens strategy for success in later states.

Mike Bloomberg was not onstage Friday night, but the New York billionaire was referenced repeatedly as the candidates took turns bashing the the rich.

The former New York City mayor is bypassing New Hampshire, among the four states that vote this month, in favor of the delegate-rich states that hold primary contests in March and beyond. While no one has ever won the nomination with such a strategy, Bloomberg has caught the attention of establishment-minded Democrats concerned about Bidens viability and Buttigiegs thin resume.

Bloomberg is also poised to spend $1 billion on his presidential ambitions.

I dont think anyone ought to be able to buy their way into the nomination or be president of the United States, Warren said in one of her few aggressive moments. I dont think any billionaire ought to be able to do it and I dont think people who suck up to billionaires in order to fund their campaigns ought to do it.

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Associated Press writers Will Weissert in Manchester, New Hampshire, and Thomas Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.

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Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, Ground Game.

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Front-runners Buttigieg and Sanders beat back debate attacks - The Associated Press

Political parties dont seem to agree on much these days, but at least 100 members split among Democrats and Republicans do share one common belief Social Security is in dire need of help and they want Congress to do something about it.

The trust funds that support Social Securitys activities are expected to run out of money by 2035, and if that were to happen, beneficiaries would receive about 80% of what theyre owed. Medicare is in even more imminent danger the Medicare Hospital Insurance fund, which supports inpatient care, is expected to be exhausted in 2026.

The Bipartisan Policy Center and the National Academy of Social Insurance released a letter on Tuesday, with 100 signatures from both political parties, addressing this issue, and one way to go about fixing it.

In the letter, Republicans and Democrats call on Congress to act on pending nominations for the public trustee roles for the boards of Social Security and Medicare, which have been vacant since 2015. These roles are supposed to be filled by two people, one Democrat and one Republican, who will work with the boards of Social Security and Medicare to provide guidance for these programs from an independent, nongovernmental perspective.

See: This word describes Social Security but not everyone agrees

The roles were first established in 1983, and their vacancies are violating the intent of federal law and depriving Congress and the public of key objective insights into the health of the [Social Security and Medicare] Trust Funds, the letter says. The last two public trustees terms expired in 2015 under the Obama administration, and Congress has not prioritized filling the positions since, the Bipartisan Policy Center said.

President Trump nominated James Lockhart III, a Republican and a former chief operating officer of the Social Security Administration, and William Dauster, a Democrat and economist who worked on Senate and White House staffs between 1986 and 2017. It is imperative that the vacancies are filled expeditiously to ensure the proper monitoring and safeguarding of the funds that help provide a secure financial foundation for millions of Americans, the letter says. The Senate must confirm the presidents nominations before they can proceed with a four-year term.

Letter signatories include former members of the Trump, Obama, George W. Bush and Clinton administrations, as well as former members of Congress and former Congressional Budget Office directors.

The fact that its signed by prominent folks from both sides of the aisle 100 former public officials equally split saying its urgent to be acted on speaks volumes about the need to get this done even in the midst of a very partisan environment, said Shai Akabas, director of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Legislators and other policy experts have suggested options for fixing the programs funding issues. Some suggest increasing taxes, while others recommend delaying the full retirement age or raising the cap on payroll taxes imposed on high earners. The Democrats have been more vocal about their proposals for Social Security, but still, even during a volatile presidential candidacy campaign trail, Social Security is rarely discussed on the debate stage.

Also see: What would Americans do if faced with a change to Social Security?

Congress has never let Social Security and Medicare fail, experts said, but action should be taken sooner than the anticipated dates of exhaustion for Medicare and Social Security, Akabas said. We really need to work well in advance of that date, Akabas said. Because at that point, a 20% gap of what is taken in and paid out and closing that overnight is next to impossible.

Appointing the public trustee nominees wouldnt necessarily expedite a solution for fixing the current trajectories of these programs, but they would provide an objective viewpoint, and signal to Americans that the programs are being evaluated fairly for their best interests, Akabas said.

The letter comes one day after the Trump administration unveiled its budget proposal for fiscal year 2021, which would trim funding for Medicare, Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income, as well as other programs for older Americans.

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Democrats and Republicans agree on this: Social Security and Medicare need help and soon - MarketWatch

Seattle traffic is not fun. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

Washington Democrats are no longer hiding their disdain for drivers. They have removed congestion relief from their list of transportation goals. That leaves you stuck in Washington traffic. And the lawmakers behind the bills are sending mixed messages.

House Bill 2688 and companion Senate Bill 6398 highlight seven identical transportation goals as the state moves forward on various projects. Ditching the goal of economic vitality as the lead, the bills promise more accessibility to improve affordable access to the places and goods Washington residents, organizations, and businesses need to live, work, study, play and pray.

In place of offering Washington traffic relief, the bills aim to enhance the quality of life through transportation investments that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, water pollution, and toxins, promote energy conservation, and protect lands and waterways.

In their world, drivers no longer get a pass to pollute the environment. Instead, Democrats aim to accommodate pollution-free transportation and multimodal transportation projects. That means theyll keep you stuck in Washington traffic, until you give up your gas-powered car.

While lofty, the goals are unattainable in the near-to-distant future and wholly ignore the needs of millions of Washington drivers.

Instead of continuing to build our roads where individual members come up with projects because theres a congestion in their district, what we need to be doing is we need to be looking at this more holistically, House Bill sponsor Rep. Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham) testified to the committee (I first saw this issue reported by Mike Lindblom in the Times).

There has long-been this claim, primarily by Democrats, that you cant build your way out of congestion. This position is, of course, generally incorrect.

Rantz: WSDOT alters algorithm to worsen traffic, collect much higher tolls

Weve actively seen, for example, projects to specifically address congestion. But under this new framework, projects like the I-5 JBLM Area Improvements wouldnt be approached. The I-405 Renton-to-Bellevue widening project definitely wouldnt go anywhere since its expressly designed to reduce congestion.

Do voters want to abandon these types of projects? Surely not.

While reviewing another story for my radio show, I came across a quote by State Senator Marko Liias (D-Lynnwood). He addressed a possible cut in funding to Sound Transit.

When I talk to my constituents, they dont want to be stuck in traffic, Liias said. They want light rail to come to us, but they also want their cars to be valued fairly.

Its clear that this quote accurately represents his constituents. But why, then, is he cosponsoring the bill that kills congestion as a goal for transportation projects?I asked Liias about the legislation via Twitter. It appears he didnt realize the language what it omits and adds is identical.

Perhaps whats lost in this discussion is what we mean by congestion relief. Is this all about changed basic definitions to needlessly confuse a simple issue?

I think of accessibility as embracing the concept of congestion relief and mobility, but thinking about from a people-centered viewpoint, Liias tweeted. Congestion relief is really about making sure people can spend more time with their families, not stuck in traffic.

In a way, his comments dont really mean anything. It just gives off the impression of meaning something. All transportation projects are people-centered because its people who are driving, busing, or light-railing it to their destinations.

But he seems to be walking back his reasonable car-centered approach he held in the previous quote. It went from appreciating car owners to shifting his goal to simply making sure people can spend more time out of traffic.

That doesnt sound like an argument to help drivers, but an argument to expand light rail or buses. And while the arguments have been that it ends up helping traffic congestion get better, it doesnt. It helps congestion problems from worsening, and only to an extent.

It feels like Democrats will tell you they care about congestion relief when a constituent might corner them with a specific question. But when it comes to the underlying framework in developing transportation projects, they ditch congestion relief goals all together. Why is that?

I trust Liias when he tells me that he can address our concerns as they debate the two bills. But I dont think other Democrats want to do that.

The easiest way to say you care about addressing congestion relief is to say it. Right now, theyre choosing to delete it from their agenda. At the same time, agencies must evaluate proposals relative to the states transportation policy goals. That means, unless congestion relief is explicitly put back into one of the goals, drivers will get shafted.

The legislation makes room for a equity and environmental justice carve out for transportation policies. Surely helping drivers find Washington traffic relief can also fit. Unless, regardless of what Liias says, thats truly not part of their goals.

Listen to the Jason Rantz Show weekday afternoons from 3-6 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (or HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to thepodcast here. Follow@JasonRantz on Twitter.

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Rantz: Democrats admit they want you stuck in Washington traffic - MyNorthwest.com

Democratic presidentialhopeful Sen. Amy KlobucharAmy Jean KlobucharWinners and losers from the New Hampshire primary Sanders on NH victory: Win is 'beginning of the end for Donald Trump' Buttigieg congratulates Sanders on 'strong showing' in New Hampshire MORE (D-Minn.)on Tuesday said that the Democratic Party should be a "big tent" for people of different beliefs, including those who oppose abortion rights.

Klobuchar, who isrunning as acentrist candidate andalternative to Sens. Bernie SandersBernie SandersWinners and losers from the New Hampshire primary Sanders on NH victory: Win is 'beginning of the end for Donald Trump' Buttigieg congratulates Sanders on 'strong showing' in New Hampshire MORE (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth Ann WarrenWinners and losers from the New Hampshire primary Sanders on NH victory: Win is 'beginning of the end for Donald Trump' 5 takeaways from the New Hampshire primary MORE (D-Mass.), said while she is "pro-choice" but she doesn't think the party should shut out Democrats who disagree.

"There are pro-life Democrats, and they are part of our party, and I think we need to build a big tent," she said.

"I think we need to bring people in instead of shutting them out."

.@MeghanMcCain on @TheView: Do you think theres room for pro-life Democrats to vote for you?

Sen. Amy Klobuchar: Im strongly pro-choice. I have always been pro-choice, but I believe were a big tent party I think we need to bring people in https://t.co/ECpbtTFzQB pic.twitter.com/xMgs6zTE9C

Klobuchar andother Democratic presidential candidates have vowed to reverse the Trump administration's anti-abortion policies and to only appoint judges that support Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court ruling that established a woman's right to abortion.

While every Democrat running for president supports abortion rights, the general public is stilldivided on the issue, with many polls showing thatmajoritiessupport some restrictions on the procedure.

According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll conducted in December, 15 percent of Democrats surveyed consider themselves "pro-life" while 84 percent said they are "pro-choice."

Top-tier candidate and former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPeter (Pete) Paul ButtigiegWinners and losers from the New Hampshire primary Sanders on NH victory: Win is 'beginning of the end for Donald Trump' Buttigieg congratulates Sanders on 'strong showing' in New Hampshire MORE received a question on the issue from an anti-abortion Democrat at a Fox News town hall last month.

I respect where youre coming from, and I hope to earn your vote, but Im not going to try to earn your vote by tricking you. I am pro-choice, Buttigieg said.

I know that the difference of opinion that you and I have is one that we have come by honestly and the best that I can offer, and it may win your vote and if not, I understand if we cant agree on where to draw the line, the next best thing we can do is agree on who should draw the line, and in my view, its the woman whos faced with that decision," he said.

Supporting abortion rights is a key part of the Democratic National Committee's platform. Campaign groups like the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have faced pressure from progressives to stop supporting Democrats who oppose abortion rights.

The Democratic Attorneys General Association announced in November it would only endorse candidates that support abortion access.

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Klobuchar: 'We need to build a big tent' for anti-abortion Democrats | TheHill - The Hill

On Feb. 8,just beforeAmerica'sfirst-in-the-nation primary,Demand Justice,the left-wing group dedicatedto transforming our courts,hosted aNew Hampshireforum for Democratic presidential candidates, along withthe abortion-focused groupsNARAL,the Center for Reproductive Rights, and the All* Above All Action Fund.These groups were able to attractall the viable Democratic presidential contenders with the exception of former Vice PresidentJoe Biden.

Lets give the event hosts credit for a forum that gave us a chance to hear from the candidates on thesubject of thecourts, a topic that has rarely come up during the debates.They did voters a service, however unintentionally, by revealing just how dangerous it would be to our judicial system to elect a Democratic president in 2020.

The leading contenders made it clear they would advocate changing the very structure of the Supreme Courtin order to advancetheirliberal ideology or, to use the more familiar term, packingthe court.Consider as a historical reference point Franklin D. Roosevelts notorious proposalof1937, which would have authorized the expansion of the Supreme Court to as many as 15justices.Although Democratsdominated Congressat the time, enough of them had the statesmanshipto recognize a blow to our judicial system when they saw it, and accordingly blocked it.

HELGI WALKER: CLARENCE THOMAS' LEGACY IS ONE ALL AMERICANS SHOULD ADMIRE

As celebrated as Roosevelt has been among presidents, thatepisode is widely agreed to be among the lowest points of his administration, which helps explain whyallof his successorshad enough common sense and respect for our institutions not to advance a similar scheme.

Fast forward to 2020. Former South Bend, Ind.,Mayor Pete Buttigiegis touting the idea of expanding the court to as many as 15 justices.Itsalmostas ifwe needed an explicit reminderthat the next Democratic president would repeat the worst mistakes of the past.Other contenders followed suit with court-packing ideas.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.,would rotate Supreme Court justices and limit their terms.Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., was not asked about court-packing at the forum, but was one of the first of the pack to entertain it as a conversation thats worth having.

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Of course, court-packing is an extreme means of advancing an extreme agenda using the courts as a vehicle to advance policy preferences instead of going through the peoples elected representatives. Buttigieg stated succinctly, My appointments will make the court more progressive. Whenever the question came up at the forum, the candidates admitted they would impose a litmus test on abortion, the environment, and labor when making judicial nominations, even on the circuit level.

Yet even at an event focused on the courts, none of the Democrats had the guts to name names of the people they are considering for Supreme Court. Not even Sandersor Sen.Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who have each spent 13 years in the Senate andclaim they have lists of potential judges ready to go.

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Demand Justice released its own list of preferred Supreme Court prospects last fall a group of ideologues left of even the typical Obama appointee. The vast majority lacked appropriate judicial experience. Thetype of radical activists todays Democratic Party is clamoring for would deal a devastating blow to the rule of law.

President Trump made history in 2016 with his transparency in releasing his list of the principled men and women he would choose from to fill Supreme Court vacancies.The American people loved it. I dare Democrats to do the same, but it seems they are going to keep hiding.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE BY CARRIE SEVERINO

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Carrie Severino: 2020 Democrats are looking to 'pack' the Supreme Court with secret picks - Fox News