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| Democratic pair hold key debate | Democratic pair hold key debate |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have faced each other in a televised debate days ahead of a string of key primary contests in the White House race. | Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have faced each other in a televised debate days ahead of a string of key primary contests in the White House race. |
| The contest to become Democratic presidential candidate has been getting more tense ahead of votes in 24 states on "Super Tuesday" next week. | The contest to become Democratic presidential candidate has been getting more tense ahead of votes in 24 states on "Super Tuesday" next week. |
| They debated head-to-head after John Edwards withdrew from the race. | They debated head-to-head after John Edwards withdrew from the race. |
| Both refused to rule out the idea of running for office as presidential candidate and running mate. | Both refused to rule out the idea of running for office as presidential candidate and running mate. |
| Mr Obama has seen his campaign funds swell since the start of the year, with $32m of contributions reported in January. | Mr Obama has seen his campaign funds swell since the start of the year, with $32m of contributions reported in January. |
| He is now running TV advertisements in 20 of the states which will be voting in primaries on Tuesday. | He is now running TV advertisements in 20 of the states which will be voting in primaries on Tuesday. |
| His opponent has yet to release figures for the past month, but the Clinton campaign says it raised 26.8m in the last three months of 2007. | His opponent has yet to release figures for the past month, but the Clinton campaign says it raised 26.8m in the last three months of 2007. |
| Cordial | Cordial |
| Mr Obama said the US was facing a "defining moment", opening the debate in the Kodak theatre in Los Angeles, venue for the Oscars ceremony. | Mr Obama said the US was facing a "defining moment", opening the debate in the Kodak theatre in Los Angeles, venue for the Oscars ceremony. |
| Senator Clinton gave a number of different answers over the course of six weeks on [illegal immigrants and driving licences] Barack Obama What is a primary? | Senator Clinton gave a number of different answers over the course of six weeks on [illegal immigrants and driving licences] Barack Obama What is a primary? |
| "What is at stake right now is whether we are looking backwards or whether we are looking forwards. I think it is the past versus the future." | "What is at stake right now is whether we are looking backwards or whether we are looking forwards. I think it is the past versus the future." |
| Mrs Clinton said that the Republican administration of President George W Bush had created a "stack of problems". | Mrs Clinton said that the Republican administration of President George W Bush had created a "stack of problems". |
| "It is imperative that we have a president, starting on day one, who can begin to solve our problems," she said. | "It is imperative that we have a president, starting on day one, who can begin to solve our problems," she said. |
| The debate was mostly cordial in tone. | The debate was mostly cordial in tone. |
| "I was friends with Hillary Clinton before we started this campaign; I will be friends with Hillary Clinton after this campaign is over," said Mr Obama. | "I was friends with Hillary Clinton before we started this campaign; I will be friends with Hillary Clinton after this campaign is over," said Mr Obama. |
| Mrs Clinton noted that "the differences between Barack and I pale in comparison to the differences that we have with Republicans". | Mrs Clinton noted that "the differences between Barack and I pale in comparison to the differences that we have with Republicans". |
| 'Gravitas' | 'Gravitas' |
| But there were also moments of tension, including during a discussion about the Iraq war. | But there were also moments of tension, including during a discussion about the Iraq war. |
| I sponsored immigration reform before Barack came to the Senate Hillary Clinton | I sponsored immigration reform before Barack came to the Senate Hillary Clinton |
| Mrs Clinton defended her decision to vote in October 2002 to allow President Bush to use force in Iraq, saying she had made a "reasoned judgement" based on the information the president had set out to the nation. | |
| "It was a sincere vote based on my assessment at the time and what I believed he would do with the authority he was given," she said. | |
| She also said that she had "the necessary credentials and gravitas" to lead the country in a withdrawal from Iraq without endangering US forces or further destabilizing the area. | |
| Mr Obama responded: "Senator Clinton mentioned the issue of gravitas and judgment. I think it is much easier for us to have the argument when we have a nominee who says `I always thought this was a bad idea. This was a bad strategy.' It was not just a problem of execution." | Mr Obama responded: "Senator Clinton mentioned the issue of gravitas and judgment. I think it is much easier for us to have the argument when we have a nominee who says `I always thought this was a bad idea. This was a bad strategy.' It was not just a problem of execution." |
| Another pointed exchange came on the subject of whether illegal immigrants should be able to obtain driver's licences. | Another pointed exchange came on the subject of whether illegal immigrants should be able to obtain driver's licences. |
| Mr Obama supports such a policy while Mrs Clinton at first backed it and now opposes it. | Mr Obama supports such a policy while Mrs Clinton at first backed it and now opposes it. |
| "Senator Clinton gave a number of different answers over the course of six weeks on this," Mr Obama said, turning to Mrs Clinton. | "Senator Clinton gave a number of different answers over the course of six weeks on this," Mr Obama said, turning to Mrs Clinton. |
| She called the controversy "a diversion" from efforts to come up with comprehensive immigration reform. | She called the controversy "a diversion" from efforts to come up with comprehensive immigration reform. |
| "I sponsored immigration reform before Barack came to the Senate," she said. | "I sponsored immigration reform before Barack came to the Senate," she said. |
| McCain endorsements | McCain endorsements |
| In the Republican race, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger added his support to John McCain's bid. | In the Republican race, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger added his support to John McCain's bid. |
| Rudy Giuliani, who pulled out of the Republican contest this week, has also said he is backing Mr McCain. | Rudy Giuliani, who pulled out of the Republican contest this week, has also said he is backing Mr McCain. |
| It is thought that Mr Schwarzenegger's backing may improve Mr McCain's chances of winning the California primary - one of the many to be held on Super Tuesday. | It is thought that Mr Schwarzenegger's backing may improve Mr McCain's chances of winning the California primary - one of the many to be held on Super Tuesday. |
| The Republicans held their own televised debate on Wednesday night. | The Republicans held their own televised debate on Wednesday night. |
| It was dominated by verbal jousting between Mr Romney and Mr McCain, with the two others in the race - Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul, who are both trailing - struggling to be heard. | It was dominated by verbal jousting between Mr Romney and Mr McCain, with the two others in the race - Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul, who are both trailing - struggling to be heard. |
| Mr McCain has emerged as the front-runner after winning the Florida primary. | Mr McCain has emerged as the front-runner after winning the Florida primary. |
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| Will you be voting on Super Tuesday? Will these endorsements influence you at all? Send us your comments using the form below. | Will you be voting on Super Tuesday? Will these endorsements influence you at all? Send us your comments using the form below. |