Democrats target Bush in debate

The debate was a "polite affair", experts say

US Democratic presidential contenders have spared each other from harsh words, and instead attacked President George W Bush's policies.

The televised debate in Wisconsin appeared to reflect the growing feeling among contenders that John Kerry was likely to win the party nomination.

Mr Kerry has won in 14 out the 16 state caucuses and is also favoured to win Tuesday's key battle in Wisconsin.

His latest triumphs were in the Nevada and Washington DC caucuses on Saturday.

SATURDAY VOTES Nevada: Kerry - 63% Dean - 17% Edwards - 10% Washington DC: Kerry - 47% Sharpton - 20% Dean - 17% Delegates allotted so far

Experts say that Mr Kerry's main rivals - Howard Dean and John Edwards - will be under a strong pressure to quit the race if they fare badly in Wisconsin.

Wesley Clark dropped out after last Tuesday's primaries, and pledge his support to Mr Kerry.

After his impressive victories, Mr Kerry said he was already focusing his attention on President George W Bush and November's battle for the White House.

Fight not over

"I think this president rushed to war," said Mr Kerry during the 90-minute nationally-televised debate at Marquette University in Milwaukee.

"I don't believe he had a plan for winning the peace. I don't think he kept his promises to America."

Mr Edwards, the only contender still in the race who defeated Mr Kerry in South Carolina, also focused his heaviest attack on the president.

"Certainly, the integrity and character of the president of the United States is at issue," he said.

He said Mr Bush was yet to prove that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction - the president's key claim in the run-up to the Iraq war.

Mr Edwards - who landed glancing blows against Mr Kerry on trade, health care and the budget - dismissed the Massachusetts senator's suggestion that the nomination fight was over.

"Not so fast, John Kerry," Mr Edwards said.

"We're going to have an election here in Wisconsin and we got a whole group of primaries coming up, and I, for one, intend to fight with everything I've got for every one of those votes," he said.

Mr Dean, the pre-caucuses favourite, tried to sound just as confident, calling Mr Kerry "a fine person".

"If he (Kerry) wins the nomination, I'm going to support him. But I intend to win the nomination," Mr Dean said.

Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton, who have been trailing in almost all the state votes held so far, also took part in the debate, likely to be the last in the primary campaign.

After Wisconsin on Tuesday, 10 states - including New York and California - will hold primaries on 2 March.

DELEGATE COUNT

Most delegates who vote for a candidate at the national presidential nominating convention are allocated according to a candidate's support in state-wide caucuses or polls; some delegates are assigned for party leaders and elected officials to allocate.

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