Clinton,Obama wind back attacks in Democratic debate

By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer Feb 1, 2008, 7:26 GMT

US Democratic presidential hopefuls Illinois Senator Barack Obama (L) and New York Senator Hillary Clinton (R) embrace at the end of the CNN and POLITICO.COM debate at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California, USA 31 January 2008. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT

(M&C) - Some of the recent heated exchanges between Democratic challengers Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were played down in the interests of party unity during Thursday's final debate before Super Tuesday when 22 states will vote.

Both candidates were cordial and attempted to focus on the values they share preferring instead to attack their Republican opponents during the CNN/Polito debate held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. There was no sign of recent rancor between the two that emerged during campaigning in South Carolina and Florida.

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

Sen. Obama set the tone by saying at the outset that: "I was friends with Hillary Clinton before we started this campaign, I will be friends with Hillary Clinton after this campaign is over."

However points of difference emerged during the two-hour debate hosted by CNN. Sen. Clinton emphasised her own experience and highlighted her opponents tender years when she said, "It is imperative that we have a president, starting on Day One, who can begin to solve our problems, tackle these challenges and seize the opportunities that I think await." 

However the junior senator from Illinois responded: "Senator Clinton, I think, fairly has claimed that she's got the experience on Day One. And part of the argument that I'm making in this campaign is that it is important to be right on Day One."

He added that either he or Sen. Clinton would make history as either the first woman, or first black man to win the Democratic nomination and said he believed the winner would go on to win November's election.

"We have the opportunity to make history because I think one of us two will end up being the next president of the United States of America," Obama said, while sitting next to the former first lady.

The debate was far more good humoured than previous exchanges between the pair with the New York senator at one stage moved to say: "We're having such a good time."

She also brought a smile to the audience with the line, "It did take a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush, and it might take another Clinton to clean up after the second Bush."