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Democratic debate 2015: What to expect from the first clash

Political commentator Nicolle Wallace provides a preview on what to expect with the first Democratic presidential debate.
/ Source: TODAY

The first Democratic presidential debate includes plenty of potential landmines for front-runner Hillary Clinton, says political commentator Nicolle Wallace.

"I feel nervous for Hillary Clinton," she said Tuesday in an interview with TODAY'S Savannah Guthrie.

"She’s in the same position, the unenviable position, of being the Democratic head candidate, but not the heart candidate," Wallace said. "Once again somebody else has captured the passion of the Democratic party."

In 2008, it was then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama who seized the party faithful's imagination and passion. This time, it's her most competitive rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

"If she makes this mistake again of not capturing the passion the way Bernie Sanders has, she’ll only have herself to blame," Wallace said.

Tuesday night's debate in Las Vegas will provide Sanders with his broadest exposure to date on a national stage.

Sanders said he will not get personal during the event but he already has called out Clinton for veering to the left politically on environmental, trade and Wall Street issues, suggesting she has flip-flopped on previous stances.

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Sanders and Clinton will be joined in Las Vegas by former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, former Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee and former U.S. Senator James Webb of Virginia.

While Vice President Joe Biden has not declared whether he plans to enter the race, he will definitely be watching the debate and "he's going to have choice words for all of" the candidates, Wallace said.