Dems talk tough on terror in N.H. debate

GOFFSTOWN, N.H., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential rivals talked tough on going after Osama bin Laden during a debate in New Hampshire Saturday night.

Moderator Charles Gibson of ABC News asked the candidates whether they would go after bin Laden -- even without permission from Pakistan -- if they had reliable intelligence that he was in Pakistan.

"We should press to do more to take him on, and if they could not or would not, then we should strike," said Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

"I'd go get him, period," said former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton said the United States would have to make sure that Pakistan's leaders knew the attack was coming form the United States and not from India, the (Manchester, N.H.) Union Leader reported.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson also participated in the debate, which was sponsored by ABC News, WMUR TV and Facebook. However, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich was excluded from taking part in the final debate before New Hampshire holds the first-in-the-nation primary next Tuesday.

Kucinich has filed a complaint on the matter with the Federal Communications Commission.