This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6596267.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Democrat hopefuls at one on Iraq | Democrat hopefuls at one on Iraq |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| All eight Democratic contenders for the United States presidency have attacked President Bush's policy in Iraq. | All eight Democratic contenders for the United States presidency have attacked President Bush's policy in Iraq. |
| They were speaking in the first TV debate ahead of the November 2008 election. | They were speaking in the first TV debate ahead of the November 2008 election. |
| 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. | 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 for the Democratic nomination, 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 has said that he will veto the bill next week. | However, the president has said that he will veto the bill next week. |
| The debate was held in South Carolina, which will be the first southern state to hold a primary election, early next year. | The debate was held in South Carolina, which will be the first southern state to hold a primary election, early next year. |
| 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 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. |
| Iraq swipes | Iraq swipes |
| "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. | "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. |
| DEMOCRATIC CONTENDERS Mike GravelBarack ObamaChris DoddJohn EdwardsDennis KucinichJoe BidenBill RichardsonHillary Clinton | |
| 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." | 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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| "I am proud that I opposed this war from the start," said Mr Obama. | "I am proud that I opposed this war from the start," said Mr Obama. |
| Mrs Clinton, who voted to authorise the 2003 invasion, said that had she known then what she knew now, she would have acted differently. | Mrs Clinton, who voted to authorise the 2003 invasion, said that had she known then what she knew now, she would have acted differently. |
| Senator John Edwards said that anyone who had voted to back the war "should search their conscience". | Senator John Edwards said that anyone who had voted to back the war "should search their conscience". |
| Mr Edwards himself voted in favour, but has since apologised for doing so. | Mr Edwards himself voted in favour, but has since apologised for doing so. |
| Key state | 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. | 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," Stephen Hess of the Brookings Institution told the BBC News website. | "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 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. | 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. |
| The Republican contenders will hold their first televised debate on 3 May in California. | The Republican contenders will hold their first televised debate on 3 May in California. |