Clinton blasts mud-slinging rivals

Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton accused her rivals of “throwing mud” and distorting her record as she clashed with her opponents on stage in Las Vegas.

The party’s front-runner was under pressure to produce a strong performance at the debate after rivals Barack Obama and John Edwards questioned her candour and willingness to answer tough questions in Philadelphia two weeks ago.

After that debate, Mrs Clinton admitted she was not at her best and said her opponents were “piling on because I’m winning”.

At the University of Nevada last night, Mr Edwards, the former senator of North Carolina, criticised the former first lady for her stances on foreign policy and social security, as well as for her support of a “broken… rigged… corrupt” system in Washington.

“I’ve just been personally attacked again,” Mrs Clinton said.

“I don’t mind taking hits on my record on issues, but when somebody starts throwing mud at least we can hope it’s accurate and not right out of the Republican playbook.”

For the first time in a televised debate, she swiftly answered criticism from Mr Obama with an attack on the Illinois senator’s policies.

“When it came time to step up and decide whether or not he would support universal health care coverage he chose not to do that,” she said.

She added his plan would leave 15 million people without coverage.

Mr Obama had said it took two weeks – since the last debate – to “get a clear answer” from Mrs Clinton on the issue of driver’s licences for illegal immigrants.

During the debate, both Mr Obama and Mr Edwards were booed when they criticised Mrs Clinton.

Nevada, a far more racially diverse state than either Iowa or New Hampshire, will hold its caucuses on January 19, after the first ones in Iowa on January 3, and most likely after the New Hampshire primary, whose date has not yet been confirmed.

Last night’s battle between the three candidates, who are on virtually equal terms in the early-voting state of Iowa while Mrs Clinton leads nationwide polls, saw the other contenders reduced to the role of spectators.

As those outside the Clinton-Obama-Edwards trio tried to get their voices heard, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson and Delaware senator Joseph Biden criticised the strong opening exchanges between the candidates.

“Let’s stop this mud-slinging,” Mr Richardson said.

Connecticut senator Chris Dodd said the “shrillness” in the debates would hurt the party when it reached out to independents and Republicans in the general election.

“When a campaign is about turning up the heat or who’s angrier or who’s yelling louder, the American people turn off,” he said.