The debate is being moderated by ABC’s Charlie Gibson and local ABC affiliate WMUR’s Scott Spradling. The debate will last 90 minutes.

The Democrats participating are: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, and Bill Richardson.

9:03PM EDT The debate will follow the same format as the Republican debate.

What about the greatest threat to America, nuclear terrorism? How aggressive would you be in going after Al Qaeda?

Obama – I would go into western Pakistan after them if we have actionable intelligence. Press Pakistan to go after them. If they don’t, we will. Believe the present administration has not dealt with nuclear proliferation.

Edwards – I agree with Obama as far as going after Al Qaeda. But what should America do about nuclear proliferation and the nuclear arsenal of Pakistan in the long term? Our present ad hoc policy isn’t working. Maybe best way to deal with it is do away with all nuclear weapons.

Richardson Use diplomacy first. Don’t need another action like Iraq. Pakistan is a potential failed state, Musharref hasn’t gone after Al Qaeda in his own country. Will ask him to step aside as president of Paskistan and hold elections.

Clinton Did take action about 10 years ago, sending in cruise missiles in an attempt to take out Bin Laden. Al Qaeda has been able to regroup because we didn’t go after him with enough troops in Afghanistan. With actionable intelligence, we have to be careful otherwise could generate conflict between India and Pakistan. Must be careful about removing Musharref. Must repair failed policies of Bush in Afghanistan.

Richardson US backed the Shah of Iran, which we paid the price for. Must not support dictators at the expense of our foreign relations.

Obama Part of the reason we’ve been ignoring Afghanistan because we were focusing on Iraq. Must also makew sure we have Pakistan’s agreement before we act against Al Qaeda.

9:18PM EDT The next President may have to deal with a nuclear attack. The day after a nuclear weapon goes of in an American city, what would we wish we had done to prevent it and what will we actually do on the day after?

Edwards First, find out who attacked us. Second, it’s the responsibility of the President to be a force for strength and calmness. It would be an enormous mistake to make it worse.

Obama We would have to retaliate. It would be more profound issue if it was a nuclear attack. We must work on nuclear non-proliferation. We should be taking a leadership position.

Clinton First, have a very high level of commitment to eliminate the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The stateless terrorist will have to operate from somewhere. Any state acting as a safe haven for such a group will face heavy retaliation.

Richardson When Secretary of Energy, worked with Russians to secure nuclear weapons. First, secure loose nuclear weapons. Will work with Soviet Union (huh?) to do this. Will not preempt.

89:28PM EDT What does change mean?

Clinton All of us are advocating change, overcoming Republican domination of Washington. There’s a lot of room to ask all of questions about change. Obama could debate himself about change, with his change about health care.

Obama – I have been consistent about health care, but if was designing a health care system from scratch, would set up single payer health care system. Make health insurance mandatory for children. My system is affordable. On Social Security, think the cap should be raised so wealthier pay more into system.

Clinton Obama changed his position many times, saying one thing but voting differently.

Obama – I have been consistent on positions.

Edwards Obama and I have differences, but we agree on a number of issues. Any time anyone speaks out for change, the status quo will attack. We need unfiltered debate about change.

Clinton Making change is not about making speeches, it’s about working hard. Made sure children and National Guard have health.

Richardson Been in hostage negotiations that have been more civil than this debate. What we need is change, no question. Is experience now a leper? What is wrong with having experience in Congress, the Cabinet, as a governor? Experience counts. We need someone with experience in the White House.

Edwards There are entrenched special interests that stand between America and the changes we need. I believe there are differences between us as to what changes are needed.

Obama Help make sure people can self-govern, make sure government is transparent. Make sure that government is responding to their needs.

9:45PM EDT Iraq, there are signs that the surge is working. You were all against it. IS anyone ready to say surge has worked?

Clinton Purpose of surge was to give Iraq government time for political solution. But they have not been doing what they need to do. Sees no reason for troops to remain another day.

Richardson It’s a massive failure. Brings up the total casualties and says there’s no military solution and there’s no political solution in sight. No one is participating in a regional solution. There can be no change unless all our troops come home.

Obama The bar of success has become so low that we’ve lost perspective of what should be our long term goals. We haven’t made ourselves safer in the process. We’re wasting our time, money, and American lives to no purpose.

Edwards It is the responsibility of the President to make policy. I would listen to the military commanders. Will pull 40 to 50 thousand troops in first year of presidency, will end military operations in Iraq, and end the war.

Richardson Cannot leave a small amount of troops or UN peacekeeping to do what the US military has been doing. Must get out of Iraq to take care of our own people.

Clinton In agreement about getting troops home ASAP. Let Iraqis know there’s no more blank check. Has to be done correctly to ensure a safe withdrawal. Will start withdrawal within 60 days of taking office.

9:59PM EDT Scott Spradling now moderating. Asks Clinton about UNH Survey Center’s report that all candidates are qualified to serve, but see Richardson and Obama as agents of change and more likable than you or Edwards.

Clinton It hurts my feelings! I think Obama is quite likable. Bush was a President that everyone wanted to have a beer with, a uniter, not a divider. Americans think that wasn’t the right choice. I think I am an agent of change. I have 35 years of making change.

10:03PM EDT - I revved up Republicans asking about running against you. What’s your response?

Obama – I was going back and forth between Republicans and football. I think that we’ve seen a disaster in both foreign and domestic policy in the past 7 years. But we’re seeing a hunger for a different kind of politics for pushing aside special interests and allowing people back into government.
More transparent government. Regardless of what Republicans are saying, the people have lost confidence in their government, and that Independents and some Republicans will cross over.

10:07PM Is prior executive experience important? Is relative youth?

Richardson – I think executive is very important. I’m the only one with executive experience. I’m the only one that’s negotiated with foreign governments. The only one that’s faced down Saddam Hussein and North Korea. Youth is not.

What about rising fuel prices?

Richardson Both parties have been failing in energy policy. I’ve created oil reserves that helped the Northeast. We need to reduce greenhouse gases by 80% by 2020.

Edwards No. I won’t have any lobbyist or those representing corporate interests in my White House. (Is this the answer to the question?)

Why don’t talk about your 6 years of service in the Senate? what will you do as President?

Edwards Insurance companies are running all over the people. We need a president that will take on the powerful insurance industry. It’s something I did in the Senate. It’s personal to me. I don’t like the idea of lobbyist influencing elected representatives.

Obama – I agree with John on this issue. I’ve seen the costs of the health care system that is broken.

Clinton Can we have a reality break? We’ve got to have a plan for a Patient’s Bill Of Rights. We’ve got to translate talk into action and feelings into reality. (My God! She played the feelings card!) Also brought up Bill’s administration and the changes he made to balance the budget.

Edwards Can’t take lobbyist or PAC money and then stand up to them.

Obama Washington is designed to resist change, but it can be done by making big changes, not incremental changes.

Richardson This is the kind of bickering that turns people off. As a governor I am frustrated every time you guys and the President get nothing done, because the burden is on us. To resolve problems you’ve got to bring people together, to heal this country. You build coalitions, ask the public to make sacrifices, to do something to help the country.

10:30PM EDT Global warming. What about the Carbon Tax. Is it a good idea?

Richardson It’s a bad idea. It’s not a mandate. You want to go after the polluters. It’s better to use a cap and trade system. A carbon tax hurts the consumer.

Obama – I agree a cap and trade system will work better. We fine polluters which will raise billions. (And they won’t pass that on to the consumers?) We should change over to compact fluorescent lights, better insulation on homes.

Clinton Energy costs on families in New Hampshire have tripled since Bush has been in office. Wants to force utilities to become more energy efficient.

10:35PM EDT Are we heading into a recession? What about the Bush tax cuts?

Clinton Set the cap on the tax cuts at $250,000 per family. Wants to fix the AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax).

Edwards A few Americans are getting wealthier. The greedy corporations are making too much. Exxon Mobil made $40 billion on profits. American jobs are heading overseas. It will hurt the middle class. We need a different tax policy, a different trade policy.

Obama Proposes an immediate tax cut for middle class making less than $75,000 and would pay for it by closing loopholes in the tax code.

10:40pM EDT - What about the small business owners that are providing payrolls and health insurance that may lose out on the tax policies?

Richardson You’ve got to balance the budget. Line item vetoes. Get rid of corporate welfare. We have to improve our education system.

10:43PM EDT Is there something you’ve said in a debate that you wish you hadn’t said?

Clinton Sure I have. I’ll leave it to the pundits to say what I have or haven’t said.

Richardson – I was asked who my favorite Supreme Court Justice. I then asked Dead or alive? Justice White…and then I found out he was against Roe vs. Wade and against civil rights. So that wasn’t a good one.

Edwards – I made fun of Senator Clinton’s jacket.

Obama – I made a few.