Clinton and Obama trade insults in debate

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama took their rivalry to new levels of personal abuse in last night’s Democratic debate in South Carolina.

At times interrupting each other, the candidates traded insults: Clinton accused Obama of representing a Chicago slum landlord and he countered that she had been a corporate lawyer for anti-union Wal-Mart. Obama also accused Clinton of saying anything to get elected and of stealing his plan for a tax rebate to help with home heating.

Obama attacked both Bill and Hillary Clinton for implying he supported Ronald Reagan and Republican ideas. "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 for 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 said, to booing from the audience: "Senator Obama, it's hard to have a straight up debate with you because you never take responsibility for any vote."

John Edwards was reduced to pleading for equal time as the two front-runners fought with each other, asking: "Are there three people in this debate, not two?"

South Carolina holds its pivotal Primary in five days. The winner will gain important momentum for the crucial 'Super Tuesday' Primaries in two weeks' time, where some two dozen states including California, New York and Illinois will vote on the nominee.

FIRST POSTED JANUARY 22, 2008