It was the first one-on-one debate between Sen. Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama, and the most congenial of all the Democratic debates. Serious issues were discussed without the acrimony of past encounters.
"The differences between Barack and I pale in comparison to the differences we have with the Republicans," said Sen. Clinton during Thursday night's debate at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.
"She believes that we have to force people who don't have health insurance to buy it," said Sen. Obama when asked what the most important political difference is between him and Clinton.
During the debate, one of the sharpest differences came over a vote Clinton cast in 2002 to authorize the use of force in Iraq. Obama says he would have voted against it and it is an example of their differences.
During our satellite interview Clinton repeated that from day one she will plan to withdraw troops as soon as possible. Obama wasn't in the Senate at the time, but he had made a speech against the war.
"I think that what most voters are talking to me about is where do we go from here, and that's why it's very important to have the support of people like Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who knows both of us, who understands what both of us have said and will do," said Clinton in the exclusive interview.
Clinton leads Obama in our most recent Eyewitness News poll in California and in all other recent polls. The gap between them has narrowed somewhat. She is well aware of her place in history, and the possibility she would become the first women to lead the most powerful country in the world.
"It is incredibly humbling to think that it would be the first time we'd have a daughter, and a wife, and a mother, and a sister in the Oval Office," said Clinton. "And I think I bring my life's experience as all of our previous presidents have brought theirs. And it would be a great signal to send, not only in our own country but around the world."
Clinton is campaigning in San Diego Friday afternoon and will be off to other Super Tuesday states after that.
There isn't a lot of time for either Democrat to reach their voters, with more than 20 states voting and more than 50 percent of the delegates at stake next Tuesday.
