Democrats Gather For Debate In Early Primary State Of New Hampshire

Wednesday, September 26th 2007, 8:52 pm

By: News On 6

HANOVER, N.H. (AP) _ The three leading Democratic presidential hopefuls conceded Wednesday night they could not guarantee that all U.S. combat troops would be gone from Iraq by 2013.

``I think it's hard to project four years from now,'' said Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois in the opening moments of a campaign debate in the nation's first primary state.

``It is very difficult to know what we're going to be inheriting,'' added Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.

``I cannot make that commitment,'' said former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina.

Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson provided the assurances the others would not.

``I'll get the job done,'' said Dodd, while Richardson said he would make sure the troops were home by the end of his first year in office.

The opening question of the two-hour debate plunged the eight contenders into the issue that has dominated all others in the race for the White House.

With the primary season approaching, all eight have vied with increasing intensity for the support of anti-war voters likely to provide money and organizing muscle as the campaign progresses.