Quotes from the Democrats’ N.H. debate

The following are seelected quotes from the Democrats’ Jan. 5 debate in Manchester, N.H. Organizers excluded Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel.

SEN. BARACK OBAMA, D-ILL.
“The fact of the matter is I think that Senator Clinton has done some good work. I think Bill Richardson has done some good work, as has John Edwards. But what we haven’t seen over the last many years, even preceding George Bush, is tackling the big issues — getting health care reform finally done, getting an energy policy that works. And that’s going to require a working majority for change. We’re starting to build that. We saw it in Iowa. We’re going to build it here in New Hampshire. And I think we can build it across the country.”

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, D-N.Y.
“I think I am an agent of change. I embody change. I think having the first woman president is a huge change. … And that on the specific issues that I have worked on for a lifetime and the plans I have put forth, I believe I am more prepared and ready to actually deliver change.”

JOHN EDWARDS
“What we have to remember — and this is the overarching issue here, because what we really need in New Hampshire and in future state primaries, is we need an unfiltered debate between the agents of change about how we bring about that change. Because we have differences about that. But the one thing I do not argue with [Obama] about is he believes deeply in change. And I believe deeply in change.”

GOV. BILL RICHARDSON, D-N.M.
“Look, what we need is change. There’s no question. But, you know, whatever happened to experience? Is experience kind of a leper? … What is wrong with having been, like myself, 14 years in the Congress, two Cabinet positions? I mean, I’ve gone head-to-head with the North Koreans. … What is wrong with being a governor and going to a state and giving health care to kids under 12 and creating jobs and balancing budgets? … We all are for change. But the question is, examine the record of those that, in the past, have produced change and that has taken responsibilities.”

(Associated Press)