The story

Sharp confrontations over health care and other issues highlighted a debate among the Democratic presidential front-runners Monday night, with the sniping threatening to overshadow substance days before the South Carolina primary.

Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama engaged in particularly sharp exchanges.

With Obama, the senator from Illinois, polling well in the state -- especially among black voters -- Clinton, the New York senator and former first lady, and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina used the debate to put Obama on the defensive over a health care plan they say doesn't offer coverage for everyone. Read full article »

CNN's Wolf Blitzer and Bill Schneider contributed to this report.

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