Clinton and Obama Play Nice at Debate

Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama demonstrated a kinder, gentler debating style in their first one-on-one faceoff, Thursday evening in Hollywood’s Kodak Theater (EK), home of the upcoming Academy Awards.

With celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Diane Keaton and Steven Spielberg looking on, the Senators appeared eager to demonstrate their mutual respect. Clinton said their differences were minimal in comparison with Republicans and Obama dismissed suggestions of animosity between the two. “I was friends with Hillary Clinton before we started this campaign; I will be friends with Hillary Clinton after this campaign is over,” the Illinois senator said. The two also emphasized their policy differences, focusing on health care, the war in Iraq and immigration. Following the debate, Clinton headed to a fundraiser headlined by Barbra Streisand.

The debate’s conciliatory tone extended to former President Bill Clinton who had appeared on the Rev. Al Sharpton’s radio program earlier to explain his recent criticisms of his wife’s rival. Bill Clinton said he used the term “fairy tale” to describe characterizations of Obama’s stance on the Iraq war and not his run for office in general. “There’s nothing ‘fairy tale’ about his campaign. It’s real, it’s strong and he might win,” Clinton said.

Also in the Golden State, the biggest prize in next week’s Super Tuesday contest, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed Sen. John McCain for the Republican nomination. The governor praised McCain as a “crusader” who shares his commitment to ending excess spending in Washington and to addressing global warming. McCain, he said, “has a great vision in protecting the environment and also protecting the economy.” Schwarzenegger said he had hesitated to back a candidate in the GOP race because he felt torn between McCain and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani, who dropped out of the race on January 30, has also endorsed McCain.