(CNN) – Republican voters turned out in big numbers — reportedly overwhelming the Nevada caucuses.
As Republicans caucused, the Democratic candidates for president held a town hall.
“We have been dealing in the last seven years with an unprecedented level of obstructionism against President Obama,” said Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders.
Sanders accused Donald Trump and others of forming a “racist effort” against the president.
“My dad came from Poland. I’m running for president. Guess what? No one’s asked for my birth certificate. Maybe it’s the color of my skin,” he said.
Sanders is under pressure to improve his standing among minorities before South Carolina’s primary, which could tilt the momentum of the Democratic white house race toward candidate Hillary Clinton.
“We have serious challenges, and I think it is important for people, and particularly for white people, to be honest about those,” she said.
Sanders is taking an increasingly tough line against Clinton, reiterating his call for Clinton to release transcripts of paid speeches that she made to Wall Street banks.
“I’m happy to release all my paid speeches to Wall Street. Here it is Chris, – there ain’t none,” he said.
“If everybody does it, and that includes the Republicans, because we know they have made a lot of speeches,” Clinton said.
But polls suggest voters struggle with Clinton’s trustworthiness, She has continually faced scrutiny over her handling of the Benghazi attack and her private email sever scandal.
She says, if elected, she will not lie.
“The facts are that every single time somebody has hurled these charges against me, which they have done, it has proved to be nothing,” she said.
