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Hillary, Obama strike a cordial note during debate

“Just by looking at us, you can tell we are not more of the same,” says Hillary

— AP

All smiles: Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama participating in a presidential debate in Los Angeles on Thursday.

LOS ANGELES (AP) Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, after weeks of sharp attacks, adopted a new, cordial, tone ahead of pivotal election contests next week that could go a long way in determining the Democrats' presidential nominee.

On the Republican side, Sen. John McCain picked up a key endorsement from California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday, adding to his momentum going into the Feb. 5 nomination contest to be held in almost two-dozen states. His main rival, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, promised to fight aggressively for the Republican nomination.

In a televised debate Thursday night, the Democratic front-runners shared the stage alone for the first time since a heated campaign was whittled down to a history-making presidential nomination race between a black man and a woman. The two alternated between civility and pointed swipes as they sparred over immigration, health care and the war in Iraq.

Their earlier fighting raised concerns among Democrats that it could cost the party the White House in the November elections.

Clinton emphasized in the debate that the country needs a president ready to go to work on ``Day One.'' Obama responded: ``Part of the argument that I'm making in this campaign is that it is important to be right on Day One.''

Obama appears to have most of the momentum, including high-profile endorsements and impressive fundraising. But Clinton has considerable institutional strength and is still widely favored to do better overall than Obama in the Feb. 5 contests known as Super Tuesday.

But neither senator is expected to clinch the Democratic nomination this Tuesday, due to the close race and party rules that do not permit ``winner take all'' state contests like the Republicans have.

Obama's campaign reported raising a staggering $32 million (euro21.5 million) in January, cash aplenty to advertise all through the nearly two dozen upcoming races from coast to coast - and contests beyond.

Clinton's campaign reported raising $26.8 million (euro18 million) from October through December, the most recent period she reported.

The Democrats were asked at their debate about the possibility of a ``dream ticket'' of Clinton-Obama _ or Obama-Clinton. Neither gave a definite answer. ``We've got a lot more road to travel,'' Obama said. Clinton agreed.

Both predicted that one of them would be the next president in a history-making inaugural. Obama would be the first black president, Clinton the first female president.

Clinton said the Republicans are ``more of the same'' and, gesturing toward Obama, she said, ``We will change our country.''

McCain has taken the lead in the Republican field with his win this week in Florida. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani dropped out of the running and threw his support behind McCain.

McCain is counting on Schwarzenegger in California and Giuliani in New York to help propel him to victory in the two biggest states holding primaries next week. Combined, the two states offer 271 delegates, more than a quarter of the 1,023 at stake this Tuesday.

Romney planned to try to derail McCain's campaign by running a ``significant'' level of television ads in California and other states. Aides to McCain said he, too, was preparing to run a high volume of commercials.

After seven contests, Romney is down 83-59 with 1,191 national convention delegates needed to secure the nomination and 1,023 on the line Tuesday.

Among the other Republican candidates, Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor and Baptist preacher who won Iowa, remains in the race, but has little money and finished a distant fourth in Florida. Texas Rep. Ron Paul has made no move to withdraw even though he scores in single digits in voting.

Obama and Clinton on Thursday acknowledged policy differences, but also sought to ratchet back what had become increasingly personal attacks and the animosity of their last debate before the Jan. 26 South Carolina primary, which Obama won by a margin of 2-to-1.

Making amends for his apparent snub of her at Monday's State of the Union Address, Obama assisted Clinton by pulling back her chair as the debate - televised on CNN - began and ended. They then embraced.

But it was not all sweetness and light.

One of their most pointed exchanges came on the question of whether illegal immigrants should be able to obtain driver's licenses. Obama supports doing so and accused his rival - who initially supported it and now opposes it - of flip-flopping.

Clinton reiterated, calling the controversy ``a diversion'' from efforts to come up with comprehensive immigration reform. ``I co-sponsored immigration reform in 2004 before Barack came to the Senate,'' she said.

They also clashed on Iraq.

Clinton suggested only she had ``the necessary credentials and gravitas'' to lead the country in withdrawing from Iraq without endangering U.S. forces or further destabilizing the region. She said it was crucial to bring Syria and Iran to the diplomatic table.

Obama shot back, ``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.''

Clinton voted in October 2002 to authorize President George W. Bush to use force in Iraq, while Obama opposed such authority in a speech he gave in 2002 as a member of the Illinois state Senate.

The two also reached out quickly to backers of former rival John Edwards, who bowed out of the race Wednesday without endorsing either one.

Asked whether it was good for the country to have another Clinton in the White House, further extending Bush and Clinton family control over government, Clinton drew applause in the Kodak Theatre - home of the Academy Awards - when she replied, ``It did take a Clinton to clean after the first Bush and I think it might take another one to clean up after the second Bush.''-AP

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