Analysis: Leadership in Debate Forefront

Democratic Presidential hopeful former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., left, makes a statement about Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., right, during the Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., Sunday, June 3, 2007. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Charles Krupa - AP)

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Questions of courage and political leadership emerged at the latest Democratic debate, as John Edwards forcefully challenged front-runners Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama over whether they had demonstrated leadership on key issues.

Two long-shot hopefuls _ Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich _ denounced what they called the lack of leadership by congressional Democrats after voters returned them to power last November.

With a new Washington Post/ABC News poll showing Clinton far ahead of her rivals nationally, the former first lady projected an air of confidence and a mastery of the subject matter at Sunday's forum. She also insisted Democrats should focus their policy critiques on Republicans, especially President Bush.

"The differences among us are minor. The differences between us and Republicans are major, and we don't want anybody in America to be confused," she said.

She chuckled as her rivals were quizzed over what role her husband, former President Bill Clinton, would play in a Democratic administration. The consensus: He'd be a roving global ambassador.

Obama, who in the first debate in late April appeared nervous and insufficiently prepared, had a smoother delivery this time and a more detailed grasp of policy issues.

So it was left to Edwards, struggling to catch up to Clinton and Obama in most national polls, to throw the sharpest elbows, accusing them of being passive and cautious on urgent issues, like Iraq, health care and gay rights.

"The job of the president of the United States is not to legislate but to lead," he said _ a point he repeated several times.

One strategist said Edwards' approach was bold but potentially dangerous.

"John Edwards clearly has a new strategy to isolate Senator Clinton and defuse Senator Obama on the war and other key issues," Democratic strategist Stephanie Cutter said. "It's a smart but risky strategy to differentiate from others to maintain top-tier status, but it's a fine line between aggressive and desperate."

Edwards applauded Clinton and Obama for voting last week against legislation to fund military operations in Iraq after a timeline for removing troops was stripped from the bill. But he said the votes didn't demonstrate the level of political leadership voters expect.

His rivals, Edwards said, "did not say anything about how they were going to vote ... they were among the last people to vote," Edwards said. "I think all of us have a responsibility to lead on these issues."