Clinton too polarizing?

The second question of the debate was if Senator Clinton would be too polarizing as the Democratic Party nominee. Obama was given the first shot to answer, as Clinton was on the subject of him. Obama said that the problems in Washington "predate the Bush Administration." The Senator contended that someone is needed to break out of the patterns of the last 20 years. This is a theme Obama has been expressing recently and positioning himself as a candidate that can bring change.

Senator Edwards used his time to bring up the role of lobbyists in government, calling on his Democratic collegues not to accept money from Federal lobbyists in the their campaign, Edwards pointed out Obama as someone who has done this and said lobbyists had too much influence over policy and candidates.

Clinton said that "We know how to win" and said that she could face the "Republican attack machine" since she has so many times in the past.

Edwards again pressed the lobbyist issue, saying that there was no universal health care because insurance companies, drug companies and their lobbyists. He said "You have to take these people on and beat them" and they can't be negotiated with.

Congressman Kucinich got in his first word at around 25 minutes, talking about his health care proposals in Congress.