HANOVER, N.H. – Health care
and the Iraq war topped the agenda
Wednesday as the Democratic
presidential candidates gathered for
a nationally televised debate, the
seventh involving the White House
hopefuls.
All eight candidates were expected
to attend the forum at Dartmouth
College. They are Sens. Hillary
Rodham Clinton of New York, Barack
Obama of Illinois, Joe Biden of Delaware,
Chris Dodd of Connecticut,
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson,
former Sen. John Edwards of North
Carolina, Rep. Dennis Kucinich of
Ohio and former Sen. Mike Gravel
of Alaska.
Voting is less than four months
away, with New Hampshire slated
to host the first primary. The contest
had been tentatively scheduled for
Jan. 22, a date certain to change as
other states have jumped ahead in
the nomination calendar.
The debate comes amid evidence
that Clinton has begun to consolidate
a formidable lead both nationally and
in the state. A University of New
Hampshire poll conducted for CNN
and television station WMUR showed
Clinton with 43 percent support
among primary voters in the state,
followed by Obama with 20 percent
and Edwards with 12 percent.
Democratic strategist Donnie
Fowler, who is not aligned with
any presidential contender, said
Clinton’s rivals still have time and
the opportunity to gain ground, but
her strong showing in the debates so
far is a key reason her lead appears
to be growing.
With Clinton’s advantage increasing,
her opponents, notably Edwards,
have raised questions about her
electability and suggested she is too
polarizing to lead on issues such as
health care reform.
The debate, moderated by NBC’s
Tim Russert, will be broadcast on
MSNBC, New Hampshire Public
Radio and New England Cable
News.