The three 2016 hopefuls running for the Democratic presidential nomination held separate one-on-one interview sessions with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow during the Democratic Presidential Forum -- a live broadcast -- on Friday. The primary event allowed the candidates to answer questions about their records and polices in front of a live studio audience at Winthrop University in South Carolina.

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley shined during his interview with Maddow, where he took several swipes at his two opponents in the race, who are both doing significantly better than him in the polls.

"I'm a Democrat. I'm not a former independent, I'm not a former Republican," he said, knocking Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a lifelong independent who just recently declared that he is a Democrat, and Hillary Clinton, who supported the Republican Party as a teenager, reports NBC News.

O'Malley added that he was "proud" when President Barack Obama was elected, whereas "Senator Sanders was trying to find someone to primary him" in his 2012 reelection bid.

The former governor also pointed out that Clinton finally came out in opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline "just last week"; meanwhile, he criticized the controversial proposal last year.

Sanders also took several swipes Clinton, the Democratic front runner, during his interview.

"I have many disagreements with Hillary Clinton, and one of them is I don't think it's good enough just to talk the talk on campaign finance reform. You've got to walk the walk," said the self-proclaimed "Democratic Socialist," adding, "I'm the only Democratic candidate who does not have a super PAC," reports The Washington Post.

When asked why Black voters should support him, Sanders touted his long history of fighting for racial equality, which began during the Civil Rights Movement.

"I have the economic and social justice agenda that will resonate with African American community," he said. "I was there with Martin Luther King Jr. -- Dr. King -- in the March on Washington."

Unlike her opponents, Clinton took the high road during her interview session by not directly attacking them. Instead, the former Secretary of State emphasized her stance on popular issues like criminal justice reform and gun control. She also talked about issues plaguing the African American community.

"I still can't get over that Eric Garner in New York died from a chokehold," she said about the unarmed black man who was allegedly selling cigarettes in New York City when he was choked to death by a NYPD police office. "Okay, maybe he shouldn't have been selling cigarettes, but did he deserve to die because of that? Absolutely not."