Democratic presidential debate, Jan. 17, 2016
Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, right, speaks, as Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton listens, at the NBC, YouTube Democratic presidential debate at the Gaillard Center, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, in Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
MSNBC is hosting a Democratic presidential debate tonight, the first head-to-head showdown of the year between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
The event will air live on MSNBC. You can watch a live stream of the debate at NBCNews.com and MSNBC.com. Real-time reactions and analysis will be available at decision2016.nbcnews.com.
The debate will also be available via NBC/MSNBC apps on Android and iOS.
The debate , set for the University of New Hampshire in Durham, begins at 8 p.m. CST. It will be moderated by NBC News' Chuck Todd and MSNBC's Rachel Maddow.
The debate comes just a day after the two met at a town hall in New Hampshire. Both candidates spoke at the town hall and took questions but there was no back and forth between Clinton and Sanders. The MSNBC debate will take a more traditional format with both candidates on the stage at the same time.
The debate will be the first time the Democratic field is down to two candidates. Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley dropped out of the race following a dismal showing in Iowa.
With the New Hampshire primary less than a week away - and with Sanders' strong showing in Iowa still fresh - the debate could be the first time the candidates have gone on a sustained attack against one another. Clinton barely edged out Sanders in Iowa and polls show the Vermont Senator with a strong lead in New Hampshire. Clinton, the former First Lady and Secretary of State, maintains her national lead.
At Wednesday's town hall, Sanders downplayed his New Hampshire numbers.
"Some of these polls are off the charts," Sanders told the audience. "I mean, I think this is going to be a very close election here in New Hampshire."