Iraq dominates Democratic debate

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Democratic presidential candidates clashed Sunday on Iraq and over the security of the country since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, trailing both New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in national polls, criticized their cautious approach in forcing President Bush to withdraw troops from Iraq.

While some members of Congress spoke out "loudly and clearly" last month against legislation to pay for the war through September but without a withdrawal timetable, "others did not," Edwards said.

"They went quietly to the floor of the Senate, cast the right vote. But there is a difference between leadership and legislating," Edwards told his rivals during the second Democratic debate.

Both Clinton and Obama voted against the bill -- which passed -- but without making a strong case against the legislation.

"I think it's obvious who I'm talking about," Edwards said.

Clinton disagreed with Edwards, both in his comments on her role on Iraq and in his characterization of Bush's global war on terrorism as a "political slogan, a bumper sticker."

As a New Yorker, "I have seen first hand the terrible damage that can be inflicted on our country by a small band of terrorists," Clinton said.

Still, she said, "I believe we are safer than we were."

At the conclusion of the two-hour debate, the candidates were asked what their top priority would be for their first 100 days in office:

• Edwards: "travel the world" and "re-establish America's moral authority."
• Clinton: bring home U.S. troops from Iraq.
• Obama: bring home U.S. troops and push for national health care.
• New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson: upgrade U.S. schools and push a $40,000-a-year minimum wage for teachers.
• Delaware Sen. Joe Biden: end the war in Iraq and defuse tensions with Iran and North Korea.
• Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich: help "reshape the world for peace" and end all nuclear weapons.
• Former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel: remind Congressional leaders they can end the war in Iraq now.
• Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd: "Restore constitutional rights in this country."

All the candidates raised their hands when asked by moderator Wolf Blitzer if they would get rid of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military instituted by President Clinton.

Was it a mistake? Clinton said her husband's 1993 formulation "was a transition policy," but one that is no longer valid.

She said it is being "implemented in a discriminatory manner" and has been used to discharge Arabic linguists when such translators are in short supply.

Asked what role former President Clinton would play in a new Democratic White House, she said, "Bill Clinton, my dear husband, would be sent around the world as a roving ambassador."

Obama ducked the question. Richardson said he would send the former president to the Middle East as a peace envoy. Gravel said, he would use him as a traveling goodwill ambassador. "He can take his wife with him, she'll still be in the Senate," Gravel said to laughter.

Edwards also challenged Obama, who recently unveiled his health care plan, on the need for universal coverage. Edwards was the first Democratic candidate to offer a proposal and he complained that Obama's plan falls short of offering universal coverage.

Candidates also split on ways to pressure the government of Sudan to end violence in its Darfur region, where more than 200,000 people have been killed in four years of fighting between local rebels and government forces.

Richardson suggested leaning on China -- up to a possible threatened boycott of the 2008 summer Olympics -- to pressure Sudan to allow in more U.N. peacekeepers.

Clinton declined to say whether she would use military force in Darfur, saying she didn't want to "talk about these hypotheticals."

The candidates squared off as a new national poll found Clinton maintaining a significant lead over her rivals. The Washington Post/ABC News poll found the former first lady leading the field with 42 percent support among adults, compared with 27 percent for Obama and 11 percent for Edwards.

CNN, WMUR-TV and the New Hampshire Union Leader presented the debate.