Bernie Sanders vigorously defended his signature "Medicare for All" proposal Wednesday after criticism from his 2020 rival Joe Biden and called on his fellow Democratic presidential candidates to join him in refusing to accept contributions from the health care industry. He also tried to ease fears that his proposal was too radical and said a big change was needed to improve health care in the country. Biden released his own health care plan on Monday, and the two campaigns have engaged in an increasingly bitter dispute over the issue. It's a new Medicare system," Biden said this week at a presidential candidate forum held by the AARP. The roaring health care debate also is likely to further draw in the full Democratic field.

Source: ABC News July 17, 2019 14:03 UTC