Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton stands on stage with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper during a CNN and New Hampshire Democratic Party hosted Democratic Presidential Town Hall at the Derry Opera House on Wednesday in Derry, New Hampshire. Photo: AFP

It was a night full of fireworks for the Democratic Party in New Hampshire as presidential contenders Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton faced off at 9 pm on February 3 at Opera House in Derry, New Hampshire. 

The forum was hosted by CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, offering a chance for the candidates to sell their ideas to voters in New Hampshire where the first election of the primaries will be held in less than a week.

Sparks flew between Sanders and Clinton over answers on healthcare, marijuana issues, national security problems and tax policy.

Sanders also jabbed at Clinton over climate change and saving energy. But the real clash was over whether Clinton could be considered a progressive within the Democratic Party.

"I do not know any progressive who has a super PAC [a way of evading campaign finance restrictions] and takes $15 million from Wall Street," Sanders said about Clinton.

Clinton was also cornered by Sanders on her vote for Iraq war. "The progressive community was pretty united in saying don't listen to Bush. Don't go to war," said Sanders. "Clinton voted to go to war."

Rebecca Hutchison, a former state representative of New Hampshire, proposed a question for Clinton in Town Hall about the lessons she had learned from her mistake. "I did make a mistake and I admitted that I made a mistake," said Clinton.

But the most embarrassing moment for Clinton that night was when asked about three paid speeches she had given for controversial finance giant Goldman Sachs after leaving her position as Obama's first secretary of state.

"That's what they offered, " Clinton explained, referring to the $675,000 she received for the three speeches, "You know, every secretary of state that I know has done that."

On Sanders' significant lead among young voters, Clinton argued, "I have a lot experience doing that. I think I can deliver positive change for young people in our country."

But there are still some young voters who are swinging between Clinton and Sanders. Lindsay Harrington, a 27-year-old female administrator at Southern New Hampshire University, said she wants to listen more on Sanders and Clinton's opinions to decide which one to support, saying that while she supported Sanders' ideas, she wasn't certain he could deliver, and that Clinton's experience might give her the edge as a leader.

Some older voters were also favoring Sanders. Sue Linehan, 51-year-old nurse in Derek, New Hampshire, said that Sanders made a good point on healthcare issues and "helped us address the potential worries" after the forum.

As the junior senator from nearby Vermont, Sanders has many more supporters in liberal New Hampshire than Clinton.

According to the latest poll result by CNN/WMUR, Sanders has a significant lead, with 57 percent support compared to 34 percent for Clinton.