Democratic pair hold key debate

BBC NEWS
Democratic pair hold key debate
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have faced each other in a televised debate days ahead of a string of key primary contests in the White House race.

The contest to become Democratic presidential candidate has been getting more tense ahead of votes in 24 states on "Super Tuesday" next week.

They debated head-to-head after John Edwards withdrew from the race.

Both refused to rule out the idea of running for office as presidential candidate and running mate.

Mr Obama has seen his campaign funds swell since the start of the year, with $32m of contributions reported in January.

He is now running TV advertisements in 20 of the states which will be voting in primaries on Tuesday.

His opponent has yet to release figures for the past month, but the Clinton campaign says it raised 26.8m in the last three months of 2007.

Cordial

Mr Obama said the US was facing a "defining moment", opening the debate in the Kodak theatre in Los Angeles, venue for the Oscars ceremony.

Senator Clinton gave a number of different answers over the course of six weeks on [illegal immigrants and driving licences]
Barack Obama What is a primary?

"What is at stake right now is whether we are looking backwards or whether we are looking forwards. I think it is the past versus the future."

Mrs Clinton said that the Republican administration of President George W Bush had created a "stack of problems".

"It is imperative that we have a president, starting on day one, who can begin to solve our problems," she said.

The debate was mostly cordial in tone.

"I was friends with Hillary Clinton before we started this campaign; I will be friends with Hillary Clinton after this campaign is over," said Mr Obama.

Mrs Clinton noted that "the differences between Barack and I pale in comparison to the differences that we have with Republicans".

'Gravitas'

But there were also moments of tension, including during a discussion about the Iraq war.

I sponsored immigration reform before Barack came to the Senate
Hillary Clinton

Mrs Clinton said that she had "the necessary credentials and gravitas" to lead the country in withdrawing from Iraq without endangering U.S. forces or further destabilizing the area.

Mr Obama responded: "Senator Clinton mentioned the issue of gravitas and judgment. I think it is much easier for us to have the argument when we have a nominee who says `I always thought this was a bad idea. This was a bad strategy.' It was not just a problem of execution."

Another pointed exchange came on the subject of whether illegal immigrants should be able to obtain driver's licences.

Mr Obama supports such a policy while Mrs Clinton at first backed it and now opposes it.

"Senator Clinton gave a number of different answers over the course of six weeks on this," Obama said, turning to Clinton.

Mrs Clinton called the controversy "a diversion" from efforts to come up with comprehensive immigration reform.

"I sponsored immigration reform before Barack came to the Senate," she said.


Published: 2008/02/01 04:07:33 GMT

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