Unimpeded by any major sporting events, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley made their final nationally televisied pitch ahead of the Iowa caucus next Monday.

One week before decisive Iowa caucus that may trim the presidential field, Democratic presidential hopefuls joined in a CNN town hall highlighting differences in policy ranging from gun control to Wall Street reform. Each stuck to their bread-and-butter throughout; Clinton to foreign policy and Sanders to economic inequalities.

Unlike traditional debates, the large number of undecided voters got to see the candidates in an impassioned environment, one where question came from the voters themselves.

Sanders defines democratic socialism

Asked for his definition of a democratic socialist -- a term synonymous with his campaign -- Sanders said "we cannot continue to have a government dominated by the billionaire class and a congress that continues to work for the interest of the people on top while ignoring working families."

CNN moderator Chris Cuomo pressed Sanders on his cost-free plans for universal healthcare and community college early on. After saying Cuomo's assessment that Sanders is vying for one of the biggest tax hikes in history," the Vermont senator conceded that he would, indeed, raise taxes.

"Yes we will," Sanders said. "But also let us be clear, Chris, because there's a little bit of disingenuity out there. We may raise taxes, but we are also going to eliminate private health insurance premiums for individuals and for businesses."

Following a campaign ad touting Clinton as the more experienced candidate, Sanders rose to his feet to dismiss decisions she made as New York senator and U.S. secretary of State, specifically on authorizing the Iraq war and questioning climate change.

"On day one, I said the Keystone Pipeline was a dumb idea. Why did it take Hillary Clinton a long time before she came into opposition to the Keystone Pipeline? I didn't have to think hard about opposing the Trans Pacific Partnership. It took Hillary Clinton a long time to come on board on that," Sanders said.

Clinton admits Iraq war mistake, denounces Islamophobia

Sanders insinuated that Clinton doesn't appeal to younger voters. The first audience question Clinton received was from a Sanders-leaning voter who hears she is dishonest.

Claims of dishonesty, Clinton said, come from opponents' mudslinging.

"They throw all this stuff at me, and I'm still standing. But if you're new to politics, if it's the first time you've really paid attention, you go, 'Oh my gosh, look at all of this," Clinton said, waving her arms in animated panic. "You have to say to yourself, 'why are they throwing all of that?"

In response to her support of the Iraq war, Clinton acknowledged her vote was a mistake, but reaffirmed that she has a "much longer history than one vote."

Clinton cited her role in last year's historic nuclear deal that will stop Iran from acquiring uranium to build a weapon. Instead of bombing Iran and possibly starting another war, Clinton said she spent 18 months creating a coalition aimed at finding a peaceful solution.

While she mostly averted going after Sanders - especially after viewing a campaign video she called "fabulous" - Clinton didn't hold back in denouncing GOP front-runner Donald Trump's derogatory attacks on Muslims, though she never mentioned him by name.

"It's not only shameful and contrary to our values to say that people of a certain religion should never come to this country, or to claim that there are no real people of the Muslim faith who share our values. And to have the kind of dismissive and insulting approach," she said. "It's not only shameful and offensive, which it is. I think it's dangerous."

Clinton's response came after an American-Muslim woman who served in the Air Force asked why the U.S. is the best place to raise her children, given growing fears of Islamophobia. Clinton said a coalition built to defeat ISIS cannot succeed without allied Muslim nations.

"It's pretty hard to figure out how you're going to make a coalition with the very nations you need if you spend your time insulting their religion," she said.

As for the State's response to the 2012 Benghazi attack and ensuing Congressional hearings, Clinton said it's still an issue "because Republicans want to keep it an issue."

Clinton referenced previous terrorist attacks - 1983 U.S. embassy bombings in Beirut during Ronald Reagan's presidency and 9/11 under George W. Bush - and how political parties didn't immediately blame one another.

"I understand that they will try to make this an issue. I will try to continue to answer, and my best defense is the truth," Clinton said.

Clinton and Sanders reaching different voter bases

A CBS News/YouGov poll released ahead of Monday's town hall found a wide age gap among caucus-goers favoring one Democratic candidate over another.

Nearly 60 percent of adults 65 years of age or older chose Clinton while half of the voters below age 30 favored Sanders. An overwhelming number of youths though the Vermont senator would do better on health care (73 percent); the economy (82 percent); Wall Street reform (82 percent); and taxes (90 percent).

Older voters preferred Clinton's policies on gun control (68 percent) and terrorism (72 percent).