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US Democratic candidates trade blows

The Democratic race for president hit riotous new heights on Saturday, as leading party candidates traded blows before a boisterous soccer-style crowd of thousands of chanting supporters.

Senators Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and their top rivals for the party White House nomination fired off dueling speeches before 9,000 people in a deafening arena in Iowa, which holds its leadoff caucus nominating contest on Jan. 3.

OBAMA'S THEMES

Obama, hoping to cut into Clinton's lead in opinion polls, reprised some of the themes of his finest hour as a politician, the 2004 Democratic convention speech that launched him into big-time politics.

Obama said he was running "to keep the promise of America alive for those who still hunger for opportunity and thirst for equality."

"Let us reach for what we know is possible. A nation healed. A world repaired. An America that believes again," he said.

But he also took a shot at Clinton, over her Senate votes to authorize war in Iraq, and for a resolution calling for the designation of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terror organization.

"When I'm your nominee, my opponent won't be able to say that I supported this war in Iraq, or that I gave George Bush the benefit of the doubt on Iran," he said.

Clinton had a swipe at Obama, pressing home her argument that he is too inexperienced to be president.

"Change is just a word if you don't have the strength and experience to make it happen," Clinton said.

CLINTON FIGHTS BACK

"We must nominate a nominee who has been tested, and a president who is ready to lead on day one. I know what it takes to win."

And in a reference to rising attacks on her by both former vice presidential nominee John Edwards and Obama, Clinton said: "I am not interested in attacking my opponents, I am interesting in attacking the problems of the American people. I believe we should be turning up the heat on Republicans."

Edwards also rapped Republican candidates, declaring front-runner Rudolph Giuliani and his rivals were "[US President ]George Bush on steroids, more war, more division, more tax cuts for the rich."

But he also accused Clinton of accepting campaign cash from lobbyists who blocked reforms in healthcare.

Other longshot candidates at the Iowa Democratic party's annual Jefferson Jackson dinner were senators Chris Dodd and Joseph Biden and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.

The event is a milestone in the Democratic race: It was at the same event in 2003 that Senator John Kerry launched his come-from-behind charge towards the nomination.

Obama and Edwards were hoping for a similar game-changing showing on Saturday as they battle in a tight race in Iowa.
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