TV debate targets Hillary Clinton

Mrs Clinton is the Democratic front-runner, at the moment

Hillary Clinton's rivals for the Democratic nomination for next year's presidential election have attacked her in the latest televised debate.

Sen Clinton has a clear lead in opinion polls and has also raised more campaign funds than any other candidate.

Barack Obama, her nearest rival, accused her of changing her position on key issues like the Iraq war.

The first vote in the Democrats' nominating contest is scheduled to take place in Iowa in early January.

'Broken system'

This was the first Democratic debate in a month during which Sen Clinton has strengthened her position as front-runner, and she was its main focus.

Is this a debate here? Dennis Kucinich, candidate

Some of the most aggressive attacks in the debate came from John Edwards, who said Sen Clinton "defends a broken system that's corrupt in Washington DC".

By voting for a Senate resolution to label an Iranian military corps a terrorist group, he said, she had helped pave the way for an attack on Iran.

"She says she'll stand up to George Bush on Iran. And in fact, she voted to give George Bush the first step in moving militarily on Iran - and he's taken it," said Mr Edwards.

Sen Clinton defended her actions, rejecting what she called the "false choice" between rushing to war and doing nothing.

Sen Obama, meanwhile, accused Sen Clinton of changing her stance on the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta), torture policies and Iraq "whenever it's politically convenient".

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For Chris Dodd, Sen Clinton's tendency to inspire both strong support and strong opposition made her a problematic figure to back for the Democratic candidacy.

He cited polls he said suggested a large number of voters would refuse to back her under any circumstances.

"Fifty percent won't vote for her," he said.

Standing at centre-stage, Sen Clinton looked relatively unruffled at the assaults.

She defended her voting record and campaign pledges as consistent, and said she had been the subject of Republican candidates "conversations and consternation" because she was effective.

"I have been standing against the Republicans, George Bush and Dick Cheney, and I will continue to do so," she said.

Frustration

Some candidates expressed annoyance that most of the questions were directed at Sen Clinton, Sen Obama and Mr Edwards.

"Is this a debate here?" blurted out Dennis Kucinich, after he had received no questions 17 minutes into the debate.

Bill Richardson also expressed frustration, and he also rebuked his rivals for attacking Sen Clinton so roundly.

Although the participants discussed a wide range of topics, there was clearly one main focus of the debate, says the BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani in Washington - catching up Sen Clinton.

Iowa looks set to kick off the process of choosing the presidential candidates, and is holding its caucus on 3 January.