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COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Democratic presidential hopefuls elbowed for attention Saturday night in a sometimes feisty debate that underscored real differences among them.
But with nine candidates vying for air time in the 90-minute debate, standing out in the pack was no easy job.
Florida Sen. Bob Graham, a late starter still working on his speaking skills, had a particular challenge trying to break out amid the laugh lines from the Rev. Al Sharpton and jabs traded between Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.
Still, Graham managed a gentle swipe at his Democratic competitors as he sought to introduce himself as a centrist Southerner and former governor who understands national security.
"My name is Bob Graham. I come from the electable wing of the Democratic Party," he said, borrowing from Howard Dean's claim to be from the "Democratic wing of the Democratic Party."
Graham also got plenty of air time during a segment when the candidates questioned each other. The Democrats threw most of their questions at Graham, who had no trouble with them.
The first debate of the presidential campaign came nine months before the primary voting starts and while most of America is paying little attention to the 2004 presidential race. The real audience targeted Saturday night was media pundits and party activists looking to gauge the credibility of candidates.
Moderated by George Stephanopoulos of ABC News, the debate showed sharp differences among the candidates on issues ranging from tax cuts, free trade, Iraq and health care.
Graham and Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman consistently stayed on the conservative edge of the field, particularly on pushing for strong national defense.
Lieberman chastised Dean and Kerry for sparring over their positions on Iraq, saying it was sending Americans a damaging message that Democrats are ambivalent about national security issues.
Dean opposed the war and Kerry voted to give the president approval but strongly criticized his diplomatic efforts.
The debate also showed the clear tensions between Kerry and Dean, who polls show to be neck and neck in the crucial, opening New Hampshire primary. Dean has frequently accused Kerry and other candidates of waffling on crucial issues.
"I don't need any lectures on courage from Howard Dean," Kerry, a Vietnam War hero, snapped at one point. Later he said Dean had only slightly expanded health care access in Vermont, a fundamental part of Dean's candidacy. Dean called that "silly" and wrong.
Their sparring led Sharpton, normally the most vocal and theatrical candidate, to urge unity.
"Republicans are watching," he said. "Let's not start fighting."
U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt took some shots over his ambitious proposal to provide coverage to more than 40-million uninsured Americans by rolling back Bush's tax cuts and instead giving tax credits for businesses to cover insurance.
U.S. Sen. John Edwards, of North Carolina, who repeatedly stressed his willingness to take on corporate interests, said the Gephardt plan helps corporations and "takes money directly out of the pockets of working people."
Graham's debate performance against the other Democrats was a marked improvement over earlier Saturday, when he and the other candidates addressed the South Carolina Democratic Convention and his rustiness as a speaker showed.
He followed the fiery Sharpton. "I will slap the donkey until the donkey kicks! And he will kick George Bush out of the White House," Sharpton shouted.
Then came Graham, reading from notes and occasionally neglecting to speak into the microphone. Much of the audience resumed their own conversations as he spoke, even as two loud gongs reminded him he was out of time.
- Adam C. Smith can be reached at (727) 893-8241 or adam@sptimes.com
To see the debateYou can see excerpts of the Democratic presidential debate on ABC's This Week at 11:30 a.m. today, and C-SPAN will air the debate today at 1 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.