Nicole Gaudiano

USA TODAY

DERRY, N.H. — Sen. Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, speaking in separate appearances at a CNN town hall here Wednesday night, disputed each other's definition of "progressive."

Sanders, I-Vt.,responding to a question from moderator Anderson Cooper, said he respects the former secretary of state, but there are issues where she is "just not progressive.”

He cited Clinton's vote in favor of the war in Iraq, her support for past trade policies and her reluctance to come out against the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

“I do not know any progressive who has a super PAC and takes $15 million from Wall Street,” Sanders said.

Appearing on stage after Sanders, Clinton said she and Sanders have similar goals and she's not bothered that Sanders has set himself up as "the gatekeeper of who’s progressive.”

“I know who stands with me,” she said. "I know what I've done but I don't think it helps for the senator to be making those kinds of comparisons because clearly we share a lot of the same hopes and aspirations for our country."

The town hall took place just six days before New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary. In 2008, Clinton edged Barack Obama by 2.6 points in the primary. This time, RealClearPolitics' average of the latest polls shows her trailing Sanders by 17.5 points in the state.

Sanders, I-Vt., downplaying expectations, said he is fighting the “most powerful political organization in the country” in battling Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"Some of these polls are off the charts," Sanders said. "I mean, I think this is going to be a very close election here in New Hampshire."

Chris Brownell, an audience member, said he makes $41,000 a year and questioned how he would be helped by Sanders’ plan to raise taxes to finance his health care plan.

Sanders said the tax increase would be more than offset by the $5,000 a year people would save by not having to pay health insurance premiums.

“I’ve been criticized for this, but I believe health care is a right for all people,” he said.

Clinton said she shares the goal of universal health care but wants to improve the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

"I know what it's like to go up against the status quo and special interests," she said. "I don't agree with Sen. Sanders that we should start over."

Sanders came to Wednesday's town hall fresh off a better-than-expected performance at the Iowa caucus, where he finished only 0.3 points behind Clinton in the closest contest in the state Democratic Party's caucus history. So far, Sanders has refused to concede defeat.

Wednesday's event did not include former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley, who dropped his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination after a poor showing in Iowa.

Bernie Sanders not conceding Iowa

Democratic candidates answer town hall questions

Clinton made her case for tackling risk in the financial system and said Sanders’ plan to separate commercial and investment banking activities is “too small.” She said a “wider group” needs to be targeted, including the shadow banking sector and insurance and pharmaceutical companies.

Cooper asked Clinton why she accepted $675,000 in speaking fees from Goldman Sachs for three speeches in 2013.

“That’s what they offered, so...,” she said, drawing laughter. "You know every secretary of State that I know has done that."

When Cooper noted they're not running for an office, she said she wasn’t committed at the time to running for president. She said she doesn’t regret the speeches and won't be swayed by the fees.

Clinton also said again that she made a mistake in voting for the war in Iraq and blamed the Bush administration for moving too quickly to go to war.

She also said she couldn’t assure one audience member, who expressed concern about Clinton's “interventionist” foreign policies, that she wouldn’t expand the U.S. military presence abroad.

She said military force must always be a last resort.

“I will be a very careful, deliberate-decision maker when facing hard choices because I know what’s at stake,” she said.

Clinton told MSNBC’s Chris Matthews on Tuesday that she needs to “really get out there” in New Hampshire because the primary is taking place next door to Sanders' home state, and “New Hampshire votes for neighbors.”

She had three New Hampshire campaign events scheduled for Wednesday ahead of the town hall. Sanders, meanwhile, made several morning TV appearances but canceled a 6 p.m. rally in Rochester. He later announced he would hold more than a dozen rallies and meetings across the state for the remainder of the campaign in New Hampshire. He said he has spoken to more than 32,000 people in the state since the campaign began nine months ago.

Clinton, Sanders square off on vision, experience

Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said in a statement Wednesday that Clinton and Sanders have agreed to participate in four additional party-sanctioned debates, including one on Thursday in New Hampshire.

The candidates will also debate on March 6 in Flint, Mich., site of an ongoing water crisis, and will have additional debates in April and May.

Sanders said on MSNBC Wednesday morning, after a week of wrangling over terms with Clinton¹s campaign, that he will debate her Thursday night at the University of New Hampshire in Durham.That debate will be hosted by MSNBC and moderated by Meet the Press host Chuck Todd and MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow.