For D.C. residents is the live Q&A with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. It's on channel 27, ABC news.
Hillary Clinton's on right now, and she's spinning the debates question, painting Obama as being afraid to debate her. This will be a live blogging and I'll update every five minutes or so for out-of-city residents.
7:02 PM Clinton talking about campaign shakeup, saying she's doing great, winning big states, Bill never won caucus states. Focusing on Ohio and Texas.
7:03 PM Questioner just asked about campaign shakeup and how that fares with McCain about electability. Campaigning across our country is a very personal experience. I'm following the captions of Clinton right now. Really doesn't answer the question posed by Questioner.
7:04 PM Talking about Michigan primary, and then the Florida primary. Is he going to bring up the Uncommitted votes against Clinton?
Clinton, "In Florida, 1.7 million Democrats showed up to vote for me, blah, blah. I think the Democratic Party needs to look at what we need to achieve this year."
Questioner asking, "Is it fair if you don't have the chance to campaign, how fair is that if you do not get a chance to contest it?" In reference to Florida and Michigan.
Oooh, Questioner's very tough on Clinton.
7:07 PM Talking about immigration. You worked out a plan for agriculture workers. Why single out agriculture and not other industries?
Clinton: We know there is a shortage of farm labor workers. That is not true in the hospitality industry...I would like to see immigration reform. To paraphrase, wants immigration to benefit agricultural industry.
Talking about how cops shouldn't check status of illegal workers when pulling them over.
Other Questioner talking again. He asks about transparency is how one viewer wants to see in the next administration. Oooh, talking about tax returns.
Hillary gets angry and says it's Obama campaign pushing this. Clinton talking about Exelon, a nuclear contributor to Obama.
7:11 PM Questioner bringing up the five million dollar loan. Clinton's trying to evade the question by talking about how she's had her finances examined.
7:12 PM Questioner brings up Iraq. Robert Gates on the pause of the drawdown of troops. Clinton says it's disheartening news, and says surge was to put more troops on ground to support Iraqi government. The Iraqi government is not making those decisions, has not pushed Iraqis--she's speaking really fast.
7:14 PM Clinton says she'll withdraw troops within 60 days.
7:15 PM Questioner talking about how Obama said, "Clinton starts out with 47% of country against her." How her candidacy may unify the Republicans to vote against her.
Clinton says she's been winning the big states. Says North Dakota will never turn Democratic, and how she has to go the traditional route of big Democratic states. Ignoring the 50 state strategy.
Clinton says she's the only one to handle health care. She believes she has the advantage that Democrats will need to lead.
Questioner says "Some people said they had to defend you. Obama supporters want to get past the fight."
Clinton defends her health care policy failure in 1994. Said she drew a lot of fire, taking on the NRA, trying to get a balanced budget. They're actually asking her the hard questions.
Wolfie, you listening to this?
Clinton says she's going to fight the Republicans. Wonders which side Obama would not fight. Says Obama hasn't fought to get assault weapons off streets. Says you don't hear anything concrete with Obama. Universal Health Care is a fight worth having.
Questioner asking about the liberal word. Says she doesn't want to characterize Obama that way.
Questioner talking about John McCain and his unpopularity with Republican party. Asks Clinton when she stood up on an issue against her party.
Clinton says she's had to shape policy, advocate the policy, feels very comfortable about where she is in the party. Wants more Democrats elected. She says the Democratic Party is in more step with the country than the Republicans.
7:22 PM Questioner asking how she can improve the lives of those in D.C. Clinton talking about how she increased Medicaid, says D.C. is the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic, foster care system, produced results for people in this district, wants to secure voting rights for D.C.
7:24 PM Questioner asks, "How can we be sure that personal scandal from Bill Clinton will not erupt that Republicans will use to blow your administration out of the water." Clinton demurs, says it's not going to happen. Questioner asks about Bill Clinton's role in the White House.
Clinton says Bill Clinton will basically be a first Husband, be a sounding board to her ideas, and provide counsel to her. Clinton says Bill Clinton will repair damage done around the world. Wants to use Bill to send a message that cowboy diplomacy is over.
Questioner asking about Fox News. Clinton says that her staff said the coverage has been unfair. Clinton talks about MSNBC, the third time they've had to apologize for certain remarks.
7:27 PM Questioner asks about hot peppers. Clinton says she eats jalapenos, banana peppers, eats them raw or uncooked. That was weird.
7:30 PM Obama's up next. Barack Obama's on stage. Questioner very friendly to Obama. Talking about how Clinton's been calling for debates.
Obama says he has to campaign to voters and campaign heavily, so he can't be distracted by the constant demands for debates from Clinton. Says he's already agreed to two debates, and that they've had eighteen already.
Questioner asks about hispanic voters in D.C. Obama says the disparity is lack of information, and that Clinton has the advantage with name recognition, talks about his Latino vote in Illinois.
Questioner asks about superdelegates. Obama says, "Whomever wins the most states and most delegates should get the superdelegates." Says people wouldn't like it if superdelegates overturned the pledged vote in the end.
Talking about Michigan and Florida. Obama said his campaign abided by the rules of the DNC. Says it wouldn't be fair to allocate those voters based on their not campaigning in those states due to DNC rules.
Talking about Clinton's tax records. Says records should be a part of the transparency.
Obama goes into great detail about his education initiatives. Says he worked in Illinois to prevent racial profiling.
Questioner asks about D.C. Obama says D.C. residents should have the right to vote, says he'll make sure there's representation. Talking about homeless situation in D.C., which was what Clinton hadn't touched on at all in her answer.
Questioner asks about HIV infection rate. Obama talks about intervention and prevention, says they should look at needle exchange, expand on treatment programs. The cost would be less compared to costs of homelessness.
Questioner asks about gun control, and the gun ban in D.C. That's a tough question. Obama says a lot of people use guns for hunting, says that violence on the streets is a result of illegal gun use, crack down on loopholes in background checks for mentally ill. Says there can be reasonable gun control measures but still respect traditions.
Questioner asks about executive experience. Asks what the toughest question was for Obama. Obama said it was the appropriations bill for Iraq, where he voted against funding.
Obama says he started from scratch, and was up against an organization with a former President with most of establishment on their side. Talks about the state of the race.
Questioner asks about Republican opposition. Obama says he's been able to withstand opposition, and that American people want a President who's willing to listen to them.
Questioner asks about teachers. Obama talking about teachers, and says they should get behind traditional categories, talking about creating more transparency in government, and how that's not a liberal or a conservative issue.
Questioner asks what issue of Democratic Party is out of step with Americans. Obama says the Democratic Party is a big tent so there's a range of issues.