“This is no time — this is the last time — to be talking about cutting Social Security. This is the moment when we talk about expanding Social Security.”

Warren said Social Security is all that stands between 14 million Americans and poverty, and she called for “modest adjustments,” such as taxing the wealthy more, and bringing more people into the system, an apparent reference to immigration reform.

Warren — on the far left of the political scale — increasingly has been mentioned as a presidential contender. Promising to expand Social Security would appeal to the growing number of government-dependent Americans, and it would allow Warren to tout Democrats’ “values.” In fact, Warren did exactly that on Wednesday night:

“I think this is — this is our moment,” Warren said, speaking of Democrats. “I think we have come to understand that, you know, America changes much of the time. It’s in increments. It is in small pieces. But we truly have come to the crossroads now. And there are two very different visions of how we build a future.