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Democrat hopefuls hold TV debate Democrat hopefuls at one on Iraq
(about 3 hours later)
Democratic presidential contenders are holding their first televised debate ahead of the 2008 US election. All eight Democratic contenders for the United States presidency have attacked President Bush's policy in Iraq.
Eight candidates are taking part in the 90-minute debate at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg. They were speaking in the first TV debate ahead of the November 2008 election.
Speakers urged President George W Bush not to veto a bill passed by both houses of Congress to set a timetable for withdrawing US troops from Iraq. Speakers urged the president not to veto a bill passed by both houses of Congress which sets a timetable for withdrawing US troops from Iraq.
If this president does not get us out of Iraq, when I am president, I will," said New York Senator Hillary Clinton. "If this president does not get us out of Iraq, when I am president, I will," said New York Senator Hillary Clinton.
Another front-runner, Illinois Senator Barack Obama, said: "We are one signature away from ending this war." Another front-runner for the Democratic nomination, Illinois Senator Barack Obama, said: "We are one signature away from ending this war."
However, the president is expected to veto the bill next week. However, the president has said that he will veto the bill next week.
Health care and the environment are also expected to be discussed. The debate was held in South Carolina, which will be the first southern state to hold a primary election, early next year.
The debate is being broadcast across the US, and it is also streamed live on the internet, allowing bloggers to comment on what is said as it happens. Viewers have also been invited to e-mail in questions. The BBC's James Westhead says that there was no real confrontation between the candidates, and they will be relieved to have avoided any embarrassing slip-ups.
The Republican contenders will hold their first televised debate on 3 May in California. Iraq swipes
Presentation politics "We have given the Iraqi people the chance to have freedom, to have their own country. It is up to them to decide whether or not they're going to take that chance," said Senator Clinton.
Observers will be keen to see how the performances of Mr Obama, a relative newcomer to the political scene, and Mrs Clinton, who has years of experience, compare. Mr Obama, who is running a close second to her according to opinion polls, added: "The American people have said, Republicans and Democrats, that it's time to end this war."
A spokeswoman for Mrs Clinton's campaign told the Associated Press news agency she had been reviewing notes and going through mock question-and-answer sessions. But although all the speakers were united in their calls for a withdrawal from Iraq, the issue did give rise to attacks about political support for the US-led invasion.
DEMOCRATIC CONTENDERS Joe BidenHillary ClintonChris DoddJohn EdwardsMike GravelDennis KucinichBarack ObamaBill Richardson DEMOCRATIC CONTENDERS Mike GravelBarack ObamaChris DoddJohn EdwardsDennis KucinichJoe BidenBill RichardsonHillary Clinton
Mr Obama's campaign also said he had spent some time preparing, although it did not give details. "I am proud that I opposed this war from the start," said Mr Obama.
Political commentator Stephen Hess, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told the BBC News website that more attention would be paid to how the candidates present themselves than to what they say. Mrs Clinton, who voted to authorise the 2003 invasion, said that had she known then what she knew now, she would have acted differently.
"These are all Democrats. It's not as if you are going to expect very, very different opinions, it's not as if it's liberals versus conservatives," he said. Senator John Edwards said that anyone who had voted to back the war "should search their conscience".
"What most people are going to get will be the 10 seconds that appear the next morning on the news shows. These are apt to focus on either some clever remark or some error, somebody slipping on a banana peel, or some personality question." Mr Edwards himself voted in favour, but has since apologised for doing so.
Key state
In the 90-minute debate, candidates had a maximum of a minute to answer questions. No follow-up questions, or open debate, was allowed, which gave some candidates the chance to side-step awkward issues.
All the Democratic contenders are currently focused on winning their party's nomination in the primaries early next year. The chosen candidate will then fight the Republican nominee in the November 2008 election.All the Democratic contenders are currently focused on winning their party's nomination in the primaries early next year. The chosen candidate will then fight the Republican nominee in the November 2008 election.
"The significance of the debate is that it is in South Carolina, one of the four states that are quite important in terms of the possibility of building momentum before the 'super Tuesday' of 5 February, when the nomination will really be decided," Mr Hess said. "The significance of the debate is that it is in South Carolina, one of the four states that are quite important in terms of the possibility of building momentum before the 'super Tuesday' of 5 February, when the nomination will really be decided," Stephen Hess of the Brookings Institution told the BBC News website.
Mr Hess said the debate would also represent a "moment in the sun" for less high-profile candidates, such as Chris Dodd, Bill Richardson and Joe Biden, giving them a chance to reach a wider audience than usual. Mr Hess said the debate gave a "moment in the sun" for less high-profile candidates, such as Chris Dodd, Bill Richardson and Joe Biden, offering them a chance to reach a wider audience than usual.
Tune in The Republican contenders will hold their first televised debate on 3 May in California.
With candidates allowed 60 seconds to answer a question, they can expect about 11 minutes of air-time each.
Tom Matzzie, of liberal activist group MoveOn.org, told the BBC that viewers wanted to see the Democratic candidates show unity in wanting to end the Iraq war.
The decision to stream the debate live on the internet could make a difference to how much impact it had on the public, he said.
"Millions of Americans use the internet to engage in politics. It's another way to tune in, even if you can't watch it on television," he said.
"You can always watch it on video on the internet any time you want."
The debate is being hosted by NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams.