Democratic Debate Shifts To Immigration

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders clashed over their records on immigration in the eighth Democratic presidential debate ahead of the Florida primary.

The two candidates faced off in Miami just six days before the state decides as both accused the other of letting Hispanics down.

Mrs Clinton attacked her rival for repeatedly voting against a 2007 comprehensive immigration reform bill.

Mr Sanders responded by criticising her for opposing a 2007 measure which would have allowed people in the country illegally to obtain a driver's licence.

The two Democrat candidates are bidding to seize momentum in the contest after Mr Sanders scored an upset victory in the Michigan primary on Tuesday.

Florida is home to nearly 1.8 million Hispanic people, who include around 15% of the state's Democrats.

So far, Hispanic voters have made up around 10% of voters in the Democratic primaries and Mrs Clinton has won around two-thirds of their votes.

Both candidates mocked Republican front runner Donald Trump's plan for a wall on the Mexican border to stem immigration.

Mr Sanders said: "We do not, as Donald Trump  and others have done, resort to racism and xenophobia and bigotry."

The former Secretary of State accused Mr Sanders of supporting legislation that would have led to the indefinite detention of people facing deportation.

The Vermont Senator called that claim "ridiculous" and accused Mrs Clinton of distorting his voting record.

Missouri, Illinois, Ohio and North Carolinaare also voting to select their nominee on 15 March.

At this stage, Mrs Clinton has won 762 pledged delegates, compared to 549 for Mr Sanders.

When superdelegates are included - delegates who are free to choose whom they want to support including sitting Democratic governors and members of the House and Senate - Mrs Clinton leads by 1,223 to 574.

Candidates need 2,383 to win the Democratic nomination.

A total of 691 delegates are up for grabs, including 99 in Florida which awards all of its delegates to the winner rather than dividing them out.