Posted on 11/15/2007 5:49:49 PM PST by mdittmar
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Under pressure in a caustic campaign debate, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday night the American people "know where I stand" and accused her rivals of distorting her record and slinging mud "right out of the Republican playbook."
"There's nothing personal about this," countered former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, who joined Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in bluntly accusing Clinton of forever switching positions on Social Security, driver's licenses for illegal immigrants and other issues.
"What the American people are looking for right now is straight answers to tough questions, and that is not what we have seen from Senator Clinton on a host of issues," added Obama.
The three-way confrontation reduced the other Democratic presidential hopefuls on the debate stage to the uncomfortable role of spectator, yet it perfectly captured the race for the party's nomination seven weeks before the kickoff Iowa caucuses.
Clinton leads in the nationwide polls, but recent surveys in Iowa show she is in a virtual dead heat with Obama and Edwards.
Obama was the first to challenge Clinton, saying it took two weeks to "get a clear answer" from her on the issue of driver's licenses for illegal immigrants. "The same is true on Social Security," he said.
For the first time in a debate, Clinton swiftly answered in kind. "When it came time to step up and decide whether or not he would support universal health care coverage he chose not to do that," she said of Obama. She added his plan would leave 15 million people without coverage — the population of Iowa and three other early voting states in the nominating campaign.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Under pressure in a caustic campaign debate, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday night the American people "know where I stand" and accused her rivals of distorting her record and slinging mud "right out of the Republican playbook."
"There's nothing personal about this," countered former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, who joined Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in bluntly accusing Clinton of forever switching positions on Social Security, driver's licenses for illegal immigrants and other issues.
"What the American people are looking for right now is straight answers to tough questions, and that is not what we have seen from Senator Clinton on a host of issues," added Obama.
Slow news night?
how do you debate when you all agree on the issues?
They pulled the other thread where some of us were discussing the lovefest.
I get such a warm and fuzzy feeling when Hilde takes over the podium.....or not.
That they did.. Is this the other thread?
I don't think that warm fuzzy feeling when Hildy takes the stage is what you've got; I think it's probably acid refulx!
Now Richardson is advancing the latest Democrat surrender plan in Iraq.
I don’t know....with me posting here, this will probably get locked, too!
Kucinich is talking the Taliban/Al Qaeda talking points right now!
LOL
You have to love the “independents” in the audience.
Let’s see if they bring back the ponytail guy to ask how the next President will meet his needs.
I thought I saw Cindy Sheehan in the Front Row of the "Independent Iowa Voters".
ROFLMAO
The press is lobbing softballs....panicked parents searching the toy boxes for Chinese toys? Please.
If elected, he's gonna SUE them!
These guys are good!
ROFL
Edwards...”We can’t replace corporate Republicans with corporate Democrats (We need a good slip and fall lawyer Democrat in the White House).”
NAFTA was not a mistake; it needs work because it was "flawed".
She wants WTO to oversee our trade agreements?
LOL
Socilism is her middle name...
ding ding ding, we have a winner........
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