MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (AP):

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democratic presidential front-runner no longer, accused campaign rival Barack Obama of changing his positions on health care and "a number of issues" in a debate three days before the crucial New Hampshire primary.

"I have been entirely consistent in my position," countered Obama, adding that he and Clinton have a philosophical disagreement over her proposal to require Americans to purchase health insurance or face a penalty from the government.

Obama won the kick-off Iowa caucuses last Thursday, and the Illinois senator's remaining rivals - Clinton, former Sen. John Edwards and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson - can ill afford for him to gain further momentum with a victory in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary as well.

"You said you would vote against the Iraq war, you came to the Senate and voted for (funding)," Clinton said, addressing Obama.

"I think we should get into examining everybody's record," the New York senator and former first lady said.

High stakes

Obama's candidacy has soared on his pledge to bring change to Washington, and Clinton sought to blunt his advantage. "I think we're all advocating change," she said.

The stakes could not be higher. A poll released before the debate showed Obama and Clinton locked in a dead heat in New Hampshire, each with 33 per cent support. Edwards was in third place with 20 per cent and Richardson got just four per cent in the poll conducted by CNN and New Hampshire television station WMUR. The survey conducted January 4-5 had a margin of error of five percentage points.

Edwards, the second-place finisher in Iowa, worked throughout the debate t himself with Obama as an advocate for change in Washington, and described Clinton as a defender of the status quo. "Every time he speaks out for change, every time I fight for change, the forces of status quo are going to attack," Edwards said.

"I didn't hear these kind of attacks from Sen. Clinton when she was ahead," he said. ''Now that she's not we hear them."

There were a few moments of humour.

"I've been in hostage negotiations that are a lot more civil than this," Richardson, a one-time diplomat, said at one point.

Asked what she could say to voters who don't find her likeable enough, and seem to like Obama more, Clinton drew laughter. "Well, that hurts my feelings. ... But I'll try to go on."

She said she agreed that Obama was likeable, then added, "I don't think I'm that bad."

That drew a wry response from Obama, who said, "You're likeable enough, Hillary."