Clinton, Obama go one-on-one in Hollywood debate

Source: Xinhua | 02-01-2008 13:17

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The highly anticipated one-on-one debate between the remaining two Democratic presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, began Thursday evening with each of them vowing to bring change to the United States, which remains at war and continues to face economic hardships.

Democratic presidential candidates U.S. Senator Barack  Obama (D-IL) (L) and U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY)  gesture during the CNN/Los Angeles Times Democratic  presidential debate in Hollywood, California Jan. 31, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

The debate at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood is the candidates' last encounter before the "Super Tuesday" primaries and caucuses that could decide the Democratic presidential nominee.

Obama began the evening saying that he and Clinton were friends "before we started this campaign. I will be friend with Hillary Clinton after this campaign is over."

In her opening comments, the former first lady said she was confident the next president was sitting on the Kodak Theater stage.

"Either Barack or I will raise our hand and swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States, and then when the celebrations are over, the next president will walk into the Oval Office and waiting there will be a stack of problems, problems inherited from a failed administration," Clinton said.

The Democratic field was reduced to only two candidates Wednesday when former North Carolina Senator John Edwards withdrew after failing to win any of the primary contests held to date.

U.S. Democratic presidential candidates Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY)  gesture prior to the CNN/Los Angeles Times Democratic  presidential debate in Hollywood, California Jan. 31, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Edwards' withdrawal, although he has not endorsed either remaining candidate, means the Democrats are virtually assured of becoming the first major party to nominate a woman or black for president in the U.S. history.

California and 21 other states, including New York and Illinois, will hold primaries and caucuses on Tuesday in the biggest one-day round of presidential primary voting in U.S. history, which will virtually decide presidential nominees of the two parties.

California has 55 electoral votes, more than any other state.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei