Story highlights Clinton's comments are her first about Sanders' education plan

Sanders would not answer a question Saturday about whether the race for the Democratic nomination is entering into a new stage

Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN) Bernie Sanders pushed back Saturday against an assertion from Hillary Clinton that her education plan is "more comprehensive" than his, another sign of the tightening contest between the two leading Democratic presidential hopefuls.

"That is absolutely not true," Sanders told CNN after speaking at the New Hampshire Democratic Party convention here. "My plan says that every kid in America ... you are going to be able to make it into the middle class, you are going to be able to get a college education, regardless of the income of your family."

At a press conference in Durham on Friday, Clinton was asked why young people should pick her college affordability plan over Sanders' proposal.

"I think my plan is ... more comprehensive because I am aiming at getting costs down, not just putting more money in the system so costs keep rising," Clinton said, drawing a contrast between Sanders' plan that would eliminate tuition at all four-year public colleges and universities.

"I have a very heavy emphasis on paying down debt and different ways for students to do exactly that," Clinton added. "I think my plan is really aimed at addressing the issues that I hear young Americans talking to me about."

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