Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders didn't target each other during Sunday night's Ohio State town hall, the last before Super Tuesday primaries begin in five states.

The Democratic presidential hopefuls instead found a common enemy in Donald Trump.

Before they could field questions from the town hall-style audience, both candidates were asked their thoughts on the Republican front-runner who had to cancel a Chicago rally Friday night after protestors clashed with his supporters. They denounced Trump's rhetoric and said he sets a dangerous precedent by encouraging violence.

"I hate to say this because I hate to disparage public officials, but Donald Trump is a pathological liar," Sanders said following footage of incendiary comments Trump made about the Vermont senator. "Our campaign does not believe, and never will, encourage anybody to disrupt anything."

Sanders said people have the right to protest and that it's their First Amendment right, but he clarified that he would never ask supporters to get physical. He called on Trump to tell his audience that fighting is unacceptable and should not be part of the voting process.

"People have the right to protest. That's what America is about," Sanders said. "I have been on the picket lines my whole life, but that is very different from getting involved in violence."

CNN moderator Jake Tapper began Clinton's segment with similar concerns. The former New York senator said Trump doesn't just condone violence, he applauds it.

"It's clear Donald Trump is running a very cynical campaign, pitting groups of Americans against one another," Clinton said. "He is trafficking in hate and fear. He is playing to our worst instincts rather than our angels of our better nature."

Like Sanders, Clinton pointed out Trump's reported plan to pay legal fees for a North Carolina man who sucker punched a reprimanded protestor last week. She said Trump needs to take responsibility for what happens at his events and called his campaign nothing short of "political arson."

"He has lit the fire, and then he throws his hands up and claims that he shouldn't be held responsible, and he should be held responsible."

Challenging Trump in a General Election

Town hall attendees didn't just want to hear the Democratic candidates come down on Trump. They wanted a strategic plan for beating him if Trump is elected the Republican nominee.

Sanders began by citing a Wall Street Journal poll that gave him an 18-point lead over Trump. He also said Republicans are banking on a low voter turnout. Sanders' three-point strategy ends by exposing Trump on "many, many levels."

"This is a guy who believes in defiance of all science that climate change is a hoax," Sanders said. "The American people are not going to elect a president who is insulting Mexicans, Muslims, women, veterans; insulting virtually everybody who is not quite like Donald Trump."

Clinton reminded the audience that she's received 600,000 more primary votes than Trump, along with endorsements from world leaders wary of the real estate magnate's presidency.

"It takes incredible seriousness, diligence, judgement, a temperament that is not going to be pushed one way or another depending upon who said what to you today," Clinton said. "And I believe that I will have an opportunity to really focus in on how dangerous Donald Trump presidency would be for our standing."

Memorable Quotes

"Thank God most people are not like Donald Trump" - Sanders

"I would breathe a sigh of relief if either the courts or the states themselves began to eliminate the death penalty." - Clinton, on abolishing the death penalty

"I know that all of us are so regretful that you or any person has to go through what you did. And I hope that now that you are standing her before us that you will have whatever path in life you choose going forward." - Clinton, fielding a question from a man exonerate of a crime after serving 39 years in jail.

"He is really, really conservative. But you know what? He is a decent guy, and I like him, and he and I are friends. And you find that, you find the fact that just because you have very significant political differences doesn't mean to say you cannot develop friendships with good people." - Sanders, on his friendship with Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe

"Nobody is talking about building a wall around the United States. Of course we value trade - Oh, I beg your pardon. There is one guy who is talking about building a wall. Let me rephrase it, no rational person is talking about building a wall." - Sanders, referring to Trump's plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.