Democratic debate as it happened: Clinton and Sanders square off before the New Hampshire primary

After more than 2 hours, the debate has come to a close. Thanks for joining us! This will be the last time the two Democratic candidates will meet before the New Hampshire primary. However, Republicans are set to meet on Saturday, 6 February for their debate.

In their final questions, Clinton is asked if she would be willing to have Sanders as her vice presidential pick if she is nominated. She says she's not ready to get ahead of herself. Sanders adds: "On our worse days, I think it is fair to say, we are 100x better than any Republican candidate".

With less than 5 minutes left before the debate reaches the two-hour mark, the candidates are asked about immigration reform. Clinton largely ignored making any substantial comments on the issue, while Sanders turned it into an opportunity to discuss corrupt campaign financing.

We're nearing the two hour mark of the supposed 90-minute debate with no foreseeable end in sight. Prior to going on commercial break, the moderators said they would try to fit in as many questions as they could.

After a debate filled with questions on the economy and foreign policy, candidates are finally asked about the Flint water crisis. Clinton says, "Every day that goes by that these people...are not tested...is a day lost in that child's life." Sanders says he agrees with Clinton, calls for Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's resignation and wonders if there would have been a quicker response if the community had been white instead of one made primarily of low income African Americans.

Clinton is asked about her support for capital punishment. She says: "Yes, I do" However, she says she does it reluctantly. Sanders retorts: "I just don't want to see government be part of killing, that's all."

Clinton says she is "100%" confident that nothing will come from the security review of her email review.

And we're back. Sanders is asked if Clinton won the Iowa Caucus or if he agrees with the Des Moines Register that the results need to be audited. He says he does agree with the Des Moines Register but does not want to make a big fuss about it because there is a long road ahead before the nominations are set.

Yet another short commercial break. The moderators mention social security will be discussed, but a number of issues have not been discussed.

Should the VA continue to exist or should it be privatised?

Clinton is vehemently against privatising the VA, but says it needs to be fixed.

Asked what country he deems more dangerous, Iran, North Korea or Russia, Sanders picks North Korea because it is so isolated. Says Iran and Russia "live out in the world," while North Korea's isolationism is dangerous. Clinton disagrees. Says Russia is the most dangerous because of its growing influence in the world.

On normalising relations with Iran:

• Clinton is against fully normalising ties, saying Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism.
• Sanders is for it, noting that reopening relations with Cuba was also once taboo.

Sanders is asked why he has not given his concrete proposals on foreign policy or revealed who his foreign policy advisors are. He says the US cannot be the global policeman and notes that the US should work with a coalition of forces when fighting terrorism.

The Vermont Senator does have an issue page on his campaign website concerning foreign policy. It states:

Senator Sanders will protect America, defend our interests and values, embrace our commitments to defend freedom and support human rights, and be relentless in combating terrorists who would do us harm. However, after nearly fourteen years of ill-conceived and disastrous military engagements in the Middle East, it is time for a new approach. We must move away from policies that favor unilateral military action and preemptive war, and that make the United States the de facto policeman of the world.

Back from a short commercial break, Clinton is asked about troops on the ground in Syria and Iraq. She says she does not support more troops in the Middle East. "We will not send troops back to Syria and Iraq...Iraqis and Kurds are doing the fighting. We're supporting and enabling," she says.

Sanders adds a comment he made in last night's town hall, that Muslim troops should lead the fight against Isis in Syria and Iraq.

Clinton is asked if she would be willing to release the transcripts of all of her speaking engagements. She responds: "I will look into it."

Sanders is asked about Wall Street and he notes the corrupt power Wall Street holds in the US. Says that if a child is caught with marijuana, he or she gets a criminal record, but when the big banks committed major fraud, no one was held accountable.

Maddow brings up voters' concerns about Clinton's ties to Wall Street and her comments about her Goldman Sachs speaking fee last night. Clinton speaks about her record and says she "stands firm" against Wall Street.

First commercial break after a heated first 30 minutes. Just an hour left in what is quite possibly the most lively Democratic debate to date.

Sanders attempts to throw Clinton's endorsements back at her as being part of the "establishment". She replies that as a female candidate vying to become the first female president of US can hardly represent the "establishment".

Maddow asks Sanders how he is expected to lead the Democratic Party if he has, until recently, been considered an Independent. Sanders says he has caucused with Democrats in the past but that he does believe there needs to be major changes in the Democratic Party.

Sanders calls for a political revolution, but says there is plenty left to do. When asked if he'd considered President Barack Obama is a progressive he says: "Do I think President Obama is a progressive? Yeah, I do."

Clinton hits back hard against Sanders' claim that she is not a progressive. She says that under Sanders' definition of progressive, plenty of politicians, including President Obama and Vice President Biden cannot be considered progressives. Clinton notes that progressives are for making progress. She then notes all the ways Sanders' has not been a progressive during his time as senator.

I'm a progressive that gets things done.

- Hillary Clinton

Clinton is asked about a comment she made about Sanders during last night's town hall forum. Clinton reiterates that she is a progressive, who supports fixing the healthcare system—not replacing it—, providing affordable higher education instead of free higher education.

Sanders is asked why he has not been able to make his promises possible during his time in Congress. He goes off my saying his proposals are possible, but he has not run for president before.

Each candidate has 60 seconds for opening statements. They then have 90 seconds for answers and 30 seconds for rebuttals.

Sanders kicks off with an opening statement on a "rigged economy" and "corrupt" campaign financing.

Clinton jumps off of Sanders' talking points, but adds that racism, sexism and discrimination are plaguing America. She says, "I'm not making promises I can't keep."

And we're off with a short teaser of the two candidates. The debate is set to last 90 minutes. Unlike last night's town hall forum, the candidates will both appear on stage at the same time.

The MSNBC-hosted Democratic debate is set to begin in just a few minutes. The debate will allow the two remaining candidates attempt to woo in undecided voters to vote from them on Tuesday (9 February). All recent polls show that Sanders leads Clinton by double digits. Here's a round-up of the polls released today:

• CNN/WMUR: Sanders 61%, Clinton 30%
• NBC/WSJ/Marist: Sanders 58%, Clinton 38%
• UMass/7News: Sanders 58%, Clinton 36%
• ARG: Sanders 54%, Clinton 38%