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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| US rivals clash in key TV debates | US rivals clash in key TV debates |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US presidential hopefuls have heatedly clashed in TV debates three days ahead of key primary polls in New Hampshire. | US presidential hopefuls have heatedly clashed in TV debates three days ahead of key primary polls in New Hampshire. |
| In the Republican debate, candidates traded accusations on the issue of President George W Bush's foreign policy, including the Iraq war. | In the Republican debate, candidates traded accusations on the issue of President George W Bush's foreign policy, including the Iraq war. |
| Later in the Democratic debate, the surging Barack Obama fended off accusations from Hillary Clinton that he had changed his policy positions. | Later in the Democratic debate, the surging Barack Obama fended off accusations from Hillary Clinton that he had changed his policy positions. |
| Six Republicans and four Democrats took part in the two debates hosted by ABC. | Six Republicans and four Democrats took part in the two debates hosted by ABC. |
| 'Arrogant' | 'Arrogant' |
| Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, ex-Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, anti-war candidate Ron Paul, veteran Sen John McCain and actor and former senator Fred Thompson took part in the Republican discussion. | Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, ex-Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, anti-war candidate Ron Paul, veteran Sen John McCain and actor and former senator Fred Thompson took part in the Republican discussion. |
| I've been in hostage negotiations that are a lot more civil than this Bill Richardson,Democrat contender | |
| Mr Huckabee began by defending his comments that the president had pursued an "arrogant" and "bunker-mentality" foreign policy. | Mr Huckabee began by defending his comments that the president had pursued an "arrogant" and "bunker-mentality" foreign policy. |
| He then attacked Mr Romney for not supporting Mr Bush's decision a year ago to increase US troops in Iraq. | He then attacked Mr Romney for not supporting Mr Bush's decision a year ago to increase US troops in Iraq. |
| "I supported the surge before you did," Mr Huckabee said. | "I supported the surge before you did," Mr Huckabee said. |
| Mr Romney shot back by stating that his accuser was wrong. "Don't try to mischaracterise my position," he said. | Mr Romney shot back by stating that his accuser was wrong. "Don't try to mischaracterise my position," he said. |
| Sen McCain joined in by saying that he alone among the Republican contenders had criticised Mr Bush's initial strategy of the Iraq war. | Sen McCain joined in by saying that he alone among the Republican contenders had criticised Mr Bush's initial strategy of the Iraq war. |
| However, he said that "we are succeeding now in Iraq" and that the president should be given credit for that. | However, he said that "we are succeeding now in Iraq" and that the president should be given credit for that. |
| Ahead of the debate, Mr Romney won the Republican caucus in Wyoming - a morale boosting victory after he came a poor second in Iowa on Thursday to Mr Huckabee. | |
| Polls suggest Mr Romney is closing the gap in New Hampshire on Sen McCain. | Polls suggest Mr Romney is closing the gap in New Hampshire on Sen McCain. |
| Clinton-Obama 'duel' | Clinton-Obama 'duel' |
| Two hours later, it was the Democrats' turn to be in the spotlight. | Two hours later, it was the Democrats' turn to be in the spotlight. |
| Mrs Clinton hopes to re-establish herself as frontrunner | Mrs Clinton hopes to re-establish herself as frontrunner |
| Sen Clinton of New York began the discussion by launching a scathing attack on Illinois Sen Obama by accusing him of shifting position on key issues, including healthcare. | Sen Clinton of New York began the discussion by launching a scathing attack on Illinois Sen Obama by accusing him of shifting position on key issues, including healthcare. |
| "He could have a pretty good debate with himself," said Sen Clinton, who is vying to become the first US woman president. | "He could have a pretty good debate with himself," said Sen Clinton, who is vying to become the first US woman president. |
| "You have changed positions within three years on a range of issues that you put forth when you ran for the Senate and have changed," she said. | "You have changed positions within three years on a range of issues that you put forth when you ran for the Senate and have changed," she said. |
| Sen Obama - who is seeking to become the first black US president - swiftly denied the charge. | Sen Obama - who is seeking to become the first black US president - swiftly denied the charge. |
| "I have been entirely consistent in my position. | "I have been entirely consistent in my position. |
| "What I think is important that we don't do is try to distort each other's records as election day approaches here in New Hampshire," he said. | "What I think is important that we don't do is try to distort each other's records as election day approaches here in New Hampshire," he said. |
| Sen Obama beat Sen Clinton in Iowa, pushing the former First Lady - who had been seen by many as a frontrunner - into third place. | Sen Obama beat Sen Clinton in Iowa, pushing the former First Lady - who had been seen by many as a frontrunner - into third place. |
| After that defeat, she immediately signalled she would run a more aggressive campaign in New Hampshire. | After that defeat, she immediately signalled she would run a more aggressive campaign in New Hampshire. |
| During the TV debate, Sen Obama received a helping hand from former senator John Edwards, the runner-up in Iowa. | During the TV debate, Sen Obama received a helping hand from former senator John Edwards, the runner-up in Iowa. |
| "I didn't hear these kind of attacks from Senator Clinton when she was ahead. Now that she's not, we hear them," Mr Edwards said. | "I didn't hear these kind of attacks from Senator Clinton when she was ahead. Now that she's not, we hear them," Mr Edwards said. |
| He also described Sen Clinton as a defender of the status quo, apparently positioning himself as Sen Obama's ally in a call for change in the White House. | He also described Sen Clinton as a defender of the status quo, apparently positioning himself as Sen Obama's ally in a call for change in the White House. |
| The heated exchanges prompted New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson - another participant of the debate - to quip: "I've been in hostage negotiations that are a lot more civil than this." | |
| Open race | Open race |
| Latest polls suggest that Sen Clinton's lead in New Hampshire may be shrinking. | Latest polls suggest that Sen Clinton's lead in New Hampshire may be shrinking. |
| A Reuters/C-Span/Zogby poll on Saturday gave Sen Clinton 32% to Sen Obama's 28%. | A Reuters/C-Span/Zogby poll on Saturday gave Sen Clinton 32% to Sen Obama's 28%. |
| Iowa and New Hampshire may not necessarily produce a winner from either campaign, but could boost contenders' chances ahead of primaries in larger states. | Iowa and New Hampshire may not necessarily produce a winner from either campaign, but could boost contenders' chances ahead of primaries in larger states. |
| The parties will not formally select their candidates until their presidential conventions in August and September, although the nominees are likely to be determined well before then. | The parties will not formally select their candidates until their presidential conventions in August and September, although the nominees are likely to be determined well before then. |
| The eventual winner will replace Mr Bush, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. | The eventual winner will replace Mr Bush, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. |
| Analysts say the 2008 campaign is the most open race in more than 50 years, with no sitting president or vice president seeking their party's nomination. | Analysts say the 2008 campaign is the most open race in more than 50 years, with no sitting president or vice president seeking their party's nomination. |