Democrats have it out with gloves off at debate

Race for the Presidency: Democrat senators at the seventh Democratic Presidential debate.

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Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), USA: Hillary Clinton faced a series of attacks on her political positions in the seventh debate Democratic Presidential debate in Philadelphia.

Hillary's rivals ganged up on her, questioning her consistency, electability and credibility. Her position on everything from the war in Iraq to the potential for war in Iran was questioned and criticised severely.

"In fact, she (Hillary) voted to give George Bush the first step in moving militarily on Iran", declared John Edwards.

Hillary, who is considered by many to be the Democratic frontrunner, was grilled on issues ranging from Iraq and Iran, to Social Security.

However Hillary, refusing to engage her opponents, took aim instead at George Bush.

"I am not in favour of this rush for war but I am also not in favour of doing nothing," stated Clinton.

"I'm against a rushed war. I was the first person on this stage and one of the very first in the Congress to go to the floor of the Senate back in February."

Clinton's history of interactions with the Republican party also was objected to.

"Part of the reason that Republicans, I think, are obsessed with you, Hillary, is because that is a fight they are comfortable having," said Barack Obama

"They may actually want to run against you," suggested Edwards, with a grin.

Hillary was charged with inconsistency when she appeared to change her position on New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's decision to give drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants. Initially she had disagreed but later on, appeared to back-track, inviting the rival Democrats to pounce on the lapse.

She explained her position, ""I did not say that it should be done, but I certainly recognise why Governor Spitzer is trying to do this."

But that only got her accused of evasiveness.

"Unless I missed something, Senator Clinton said two different things in the course of about two minutes just a few minutes ago," said John Edwards.

Barack Obama, however, agreed with Spitzer's decision.'

Interestingly, although 80 per cent of Republicans and most of the independents oppose issuing such, prominent Republican Governor Jeb Bush had endorsed this very legislation in 2004 - to give drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants in Florida.

Meanwhile, the audience was considerably entertained by Joseph Biden's acerbic remarks on Rudy Giuliani.

"Rudy Giuliani is probably the most under-qualified man since George Bush to seek the Presidency. I mean, think about it! Rudy Giuliani - there's only three things he mentions in a sentence - a noun, a verb and 9/11! There's nothing else!"