Sanders, within striking distance of an Iowa victory, runs into the politics of gender at debate

Sen. Bernie Sanders, sidelined briefly by a heart attack and consistently underestimated by his rivals, has clawed his way into a position that comes as a surprise to many — within striking distance of winning the Democratic caucuses in Iowa and grabbing crucial early momentum in the 2020 nominating contest.

But his position is fragile enough that as the state’s Feb. 3 caucuses grow closer, Sanders has tried to solidify his standing by intensifying attacks on rivals.

In Tuesday night’s debate, that meant two big moments — a confrontation with...