Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are tussling in Wisconsin over who would best represent the Democratic Party against Republican front-runner Donald Trump.
Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders both spoke at the Founders Day Gala. Photo: AFP
The Wisconsin Democratic Party's "Founders Day Gala," is a chance for both to make their closing arguments before the state's primary vote this week.
Mrs Clinton, as the Democratic front-runner, is more and more taking aim at both Mr Trump and US Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, the top Trump rival.
Donald Trump has proposed a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States and Senator Cruz has called for police patrols of Muslim neighbourhoods.
"That does not make Trump and Cruz sound strong," said Mrs Clinton to the crowd of 1400.
"It makes them sound in over their heads... You know loose cannons tend to misfire, and in a dangerous world that is a gamble we cannot afford."
Bernie Sanders noted national poll numbers showing he lead Donald Trump by a larger margin than Mrs Clinton leads the New York billionaire.
He said this made him "the strongest candidate" on the Democratic side.
"It's not just polling," Mr Sanders said.
"There is one campaign which has created an enormous amount of excitement and enthusiasm and that is our campaign."
For the Democratic Party to succeed in the 8 November election, Mr Sanders said, "we need a vibrancy" and energy that brings in young people who have flocked to his campaign.
- Reuters