Clash of the Titans: Obama and Clinton Engage in Heated Debate

Both the Democratic Party candidates once again locked horns with each other. This time the battlefield was a telecast debate, their final onscreen encounter before next week’s primaries in Ohio and Texas. Clinton and Obama lashed out at each other, on topics such as negative campaigning strategies, policies on health care, trade and foreign policy, and the war in Iraq.

The candidates engaged fiercely in a verbal repartee accusing each other of dirty tricks and negative campaigning over the past few weeks, merely in the name of gaining an upper hand. Each candidate accused the other of having spread misinformation about each others professed policies. While Clinton highlighted the flyers that the Obama camp had circulated regarding Clinton’s policies on North American Free Trade Agreement and her health care plan, Obama brushed it aside saying that his rival had been constantly indulging in negative attacks against his campaign and he was not whining about it, as he understood the intent of such moves.

Obama, however, sought to quell the recent uproar over a photo that had been distributed over the internet. He said that he believed Clinton when she said she had no idea where that photo had originated. The greatest contrast between both candidates was seen on the issue of foreign policy. Clinton once again harped on her prior qualifications in the field as a former first lady and a New York Senator making her a better choice to handle such affairs. Obama retorted that longevity in Washington should not be confused with experience; he highlighted Clinton’s vote in favor of authorizing the Iraq war in 2002, which was a large-scale strategic blunder.

Both candidates are set to face off next in Texas and Ohio. The stakes are high for Clinton who needs wins in both states to reduce the growing gap between her and Obama. Initial polls seems to indicate that Obama is leading in Texas and is expected to secure 50% of the votes while Clinton trailed at 46% according to a CNN poll.