Nov. 15 Democratic debate transcript

Speakers: Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn.; Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.; Former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.; Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M. Sen. Joseph R. Biden JR., D-Del.; Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich, D-Ohio; Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

Moderators: Wolf Blitzer, Campbell Brown, John Roberts, John King, Gloria Borger

Wolf Blitzer: Welcome to the Cox Pavilion. We're at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Tonight, a little bit of history. This will be the first -- the first -- presidential debate ever in this state, one of the fastest growing, most prosperous in the country, and a state with a new starring role in the kickoff events of this, the primary and caucus season, right up there with Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Voters here will assemble and caucus on Saturday, January 19th, and that's only two months away.

Over the next two hours in this debate -- officially sanctioned, by the way, by the National Democratic Party -- the candidates for president of the United States will be questioned by both journalists, as well as ordinary people, undecided voters likely to attend those caucuses here in Nevada.

The program tonight is going to be a little different, as well. As you can see, the candidates are not yet on stage. The traveling press pool is here. They're awaiting the arrival and the big photo opportunity. We thought, "You know what?," we're going to bring that to you as well tonight.

So let's get started.

First up, Senator John Edwards.

Next up, Senator Chris Dodd.

Blitzer: Senator Barack Obama.

Senator Hillary Clinton.

Congressman Dennis Kucinich.

Blitzer: Governor Bill Richardson.

Senator Joe Biden.

The Democratic presidential candidates.

Blitzer: All right, while they continue the photo op over here, I want to bring in some of our reporters and analysts to give us a sense of what we can expect tonight. We've got the best political team watching all of this unfold.

Gloria Borger, what are you going to be looking for as we get ready? This debate is about to begin.

Gloria Borger: Well, we know that tonight's going to be a really tough night for Hillary Clinton.

Borger: Barack Obama and John Edwards are going to challenge her not only on her positions on immigration, but on all kinds of issues.

They have to break through one of them as the alternative to Hillary Clinton here tonight. We're also going to be watching to see how she handles their attacks.

Wolf, I think she has to engage tonight. She can't just float above it all; she has to take them on, as well, and I expect her to do it.

Blitzer: John King, what are you looking for?

John King: I think Gloria is dead on. The pressure is, most of all, on Senator Clinton, who has to reassert her command of this race after a tough few weeks.

But also, Wolf, there are significant policy disagreements. The Democrats agree, for the most part, on the big issue. But there are also significant policy disagreements on immigration, and also on what would the role of U.S. troops be in Iraq.

All of the Democrats say they would get out as soon as possible, but they do have disagreements about whether the troops remaining during that pull-out would, say, block Iranian influence. That's a disagreement between Obama and Clinton.

As we get closer and closer to Iowa, the voters are tuned in, paying much more close attention to the details and there's a great opportunity for them tonight.

Blitzer: Campbell Brown and John Roberts are going to joining me in the questioning during the first hour of this debate.

Campbell, give us a sense of what you're looking at.

Campbell Brown: Well, just to follow up a little bit on what Gloria has said, it will be interesting to watch Senator Clinton -- and obviously she is under a lot of pressure tonight, given her performance at the last debate.

But what I think will be more interesting is whether she decides, as some have suggested she should, to go after her opponents, not only to aggressively defend herself, but to really get in there and mix it up with Barack Obama and John Edwards, who have been most aggressive in going after her.

Or will she do what she has tended to do in the previous debates, which is sort of take the high road to try to stay focused on the issues, and to continue to sort of portray herself as the inevitable candidate-to-be?