Clinton, Obama Clash at Debate
By NEDRA PICKLER
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) - Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama clashed bitterly Monday over Bill Clinton's role in his wife's campaign and Obama's recent praise for Republicans in a presidential debate five days before the pivotal South Carolina primary.
After a brief discussion of the nation's economic woes, the debate devolved into an angry exchange between the two senators, with Clinton noting Obama had taken campaign contributions from a political patron facing fraud charges and Obama calling Clinton a "corporate lawyer sitting on the board of Wal-Mart."
As Obama tried to defend his comments about Republicans and Ronald Reagan, Clinton interrupted and said she has never criticized his remarks on Reagan.
"Your husband did," said Obama, who has accused the former president of misrepresenting his record.
"I'm here. He's not," she snapped.
John Edwards, who badly trails his two rivals, tried to stay above the fray while pleading for equal time.
"Are there three people in this debate, not two?" he asked.
"We have got to understand, this is not about us personally. It's about what we are trying to do for this country," Edwards said to applause from the audience.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP)—Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama engaged in an angry exchange Monday over past statements on the Iraq war, Republican ideas and the words of former President Clinton in a presidential debate five days before the pivotal South Carolina primary.
The two candidates often talked over each other—and traded accusations over past records—in one of the most heated confrontations of the 2008 race.
"What she said wasn't true .... there was a set of assertions made by Senator Clinton as well as her husband that are not factually accurate," Obama said. "I think that part of what people are looking right now is someone who is going to solve problems and not resort to the same typical politics that we've seen in Washington."
Clinton countered: "I believe your record and what you say should matter."
No comments:
Post a Comment