Kirsten Gillibrand in 2020 Fox Town Hall

On Abortion: Abortion is the human right to bodily autonomy

Ms. Gillibrand, long a prominent advocate for issues affecting women, has placed herself at the forefront of the debate, hoping that some primary voters may factor the new measures into their decisions. "Why should male legislators across this country decide when you are having children, how many and under what circumstances?" she asked Sunday, her voice rising. "I don't understand it. It's a human right. It's about having bodily autonomy. It's about being able to control your physical self."

She did not specifically address third-trimester abortions (which account for less than 1.5% of abortions), even when the audience member asked a second time.

On Abortion: Debate is about women's rights, not infanticide

Gillibrand's most explicit pitch went to female voters: "I am the leading presidential candidate on women's rights today," she said. In the last month, Gillibrand rolled out a slate of policies around reproductive rights and women's health. She waded into a congressional Democratic primary, endorsing the challenger to an anti-abortion-rights Democratic House member in Illinois. She was also the first presidential candidate to commit to a litmus test for judicial nominees by pledging only to nominate judges who consider Roe v. Wade as settled precedent.

On Families & Children: The future was female and intersectional

"We want women to have a seat at the table," Gillibrand said. At that, Wallace jumped in and asked: "What about men?"

"They're already there -- do you not know?" Gillibrand said, greeted by one of the biggest rounds of applause of the night. "It's not meant to be exclusionary, it's meant to be inclusionary," she said.

On Gun Control: Ban bump stocks; reduce lobbying power of NRA

She said she would do so by creating public financing for campaigns, though the N.R.A.'s power is not quite so simple: It comes not only from direct donations to candidates but also from its ability to mobilize a reliable base of single-issue voters. Ms. Gillibrand did not hold back in denouncing the N.R.A., which she called "the worst organization in this country."

On Gun Control: NRA is the worst organization in America

On Immigration: We need a humane asylum application process

She called for a "humane" asylum application process, for immigration judges to be independent from the attorney general's office, and for "comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship."