Democratic Debate Recap: Martin O'Malley Leads on Immigration, Puerto Rico Debt Crisis

By Michael Oleaga First Posted: Jan 18, 2016 01:50 AM EST

During NBC’s two-hour Democratic presidential primary debate, only one candidate acknowledged Puerto Rico's financial crisis, immigration and the Obama administration’s deportation raids: Martin O’Malley.

What NBC Forgot: Immigration, Puerto Rico & Central America

In response to moderator Lester Holt's last question of the two-hour debate on Sunday night, "Is there anything that you really wanted to say tonight that you haven't gotten a chance to say?" O'Malley took the next 60 seconds to acknowledge issues the Latino community is seeking action on from Congress and President Barack Obama.

"There are so many issues that we haven't been able to discuss here. We have not fully discussed immigration reform and the deplorable number of immigrant detention camps that our nation is now maintaining. We haven't discussed the shameful treatment that the people of Puerto Rico, our fellow Americans, are being treated with by these hedge funds that are working them over," said O'Malley, which garnered applause from the Charleston, South Carolina audience.

"We haven't discussed the fact that in our own hemisphere we have the danger of nation-state failures because of drug traffickers in Honduras and Guatemala and El Salvador," O'Malley continued.

First 100 Days

The first question of the night was about what each candidate plans to focus during his or her respective first 100 days in the Oval Office.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said he aims on "thinking big," which includes health care as a right, minimum wage increase to $15 an hour and create decent paying jobs and to end the decline of the middle class. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she will work quickly to present Congress with a new jobs plan, improve wages including equal pay for women's work, plans to improve the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and fix issues dividing the country such immigration, campaign finance reforms and voting rights. O'Malley also said he plans to increase wages, pass comprehensive immigration reform and address climate change.

Health Reforms

A significant portion of the debate focused on Sanders' health care proposals. Clinton claimed Sanders wants to rid of the ACA, stating the Vermont senator wants "to tear it up and start over again," which would lead the U.S. in the "wrong direction."

"I do not want to see us start over again with a contentious debate," said Clinton.

Sanders denounced what he claimed is the Clinton campaign's rhetoric that he seeks to end Medicare and Medicaid. Sanders defended the ACA, acknowledged that he helped draft and vote for the bill but there are still 29 million Americans uninsured, thus he proposed a "Medicare for all" plan.

"We finally have a path to universal health care. We've accomplished so much. I do not want to see the Republicans repeal it, and I do not want us to start over again with a contentious debate. I want us to defend and build on the Affordable Care Act and improve it," said Clinton.

Gun Control

Clinton also attacked Sanders on his gun control platform. The former secretary of state said the Vermont senator voted for a provision gun control advocates claimed would have prevented the suspect of the Charleston church massacre from obtaining a gun.

"He has voted with the NRA, with the gun lobby, numerous times," said Clinton.

Sanders said what Clinton said is disingenuous, noting his D- record from the National Rifle Association and support of background checks, including Obama's recent gun control executive actions.