Former Vice President Joe Biden predicted he could "take a hit" in New Hampshire's next-up primary election after a weak showing in Iowa. But he also raised questions about leading rival Bernie Sanders' status as a democratic socialist and warned Democratic voters that President Donald Trump and his allies would use the socialism label against Sanders and the party in congressional elections as well as the presidential voting.

"Bernie's labelled himself, not me, a democratic socialist," Biden said before acknowledging his own political challenges. "I took a hit in Iowa and I'll probably take a hit here."

Sanders brushed off concerns about Trump's attacks: "Donald Trump lies all the time," he said.

Friday marked the eighth and perhaps most consequential debate in the Democratic Party's yearlong quest for a presidential nominee. The prime-time affair came just four days after Iowa's chaotic caucuses - and four days before New Hampshire's primary - with several candidates suddenly facing pointed questions about their political survival.

The debate tested the strength of the Democrats' new front-runners, Sanders and Pete Buttigieg, who emerged from Iowa on top but walked into New Hampshire with liabilities that their Democratic rivals fought to exploit. With the stakes rising by the day and money rapidly drying up, Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar were also fighting to prove to voters and donors alike that a legitimate path to the presidency remained.

While Warren and Sanders as presidential candidates have sworn off wealthy donors, Buttigieg and the rest of the field have continued to hold private finance events with big donors, some with connections to Wall Street. In fact, Buttigieg took the unusual step of leaving New Hampshire this week to hold three fundraisers with wealthy donors in the New York area.

Australian Associated Press