Sanders faces tough questions at 3rd debate

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic presidential candidates are meeting for their third debate Saturday, with tensions suddenly boiling between Hillary Clinton and her chief rival, Bernie Sanders.

Revelations that campaign workers for Sanders improperly accessed voter data compiled by the Clinton campaign have thrown a wild card into a debate that was shaping up to be centered on national security.

Already, Sanders had been struggling to get airtime for his economic-focused message when others are talking about keeping the country safe after the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris and California. Now, he also must answer charges about his campaign.

In a jarring departure from what had been a genteel contest, the Clinton team is accusing the Sanders campaign of stealing information about potential voters worth millions of dollars. Meanwhile, the Sanders people accuse the Democratic National Committee of heavy-handed hijinks to smooth Clinton’s path to the nomination. The DNC removed the Sanders team’s access to the voter files as part of its investigation into the data breach, but said it would restore access Saturday.

What’s unclear — and a prime issue to watch for in the debate — is whether and how much the candidates themselves clash over the bad blood now spilling from their campaigns.

For Clinton, who has a commanding lead of 20 points or more in most national polls, the question is whether she tries to capitalize on the controversy. Or, does she see greater value in taking a pass — and not alienating Sanders’ backers, whose grassroots support Clinton will need in the general election should she win her party’s nomination?

All of this may present an opening for former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who’s running out of opportunities to have a break-out moment.