Clinton, Obama clash in debate

South Carolina: US Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama engaged in a bitter crossfire on Monday in their continuing presidential campaign.

Obama's complaints about former President Bill Clinton's attacks on him on behalf of his wife's campaign boiled over at a rancorous debate.

Hillary Clinton flayed Obama for his praise of the late President Ronald Reagan, a Republican icon reviled by many Democrats.

"Now I personally think they had ideas. But they were bad ideas," Clinton said in the televised debate. "They were bad ideas for America."

Obama shot back that he was in no way praising Republican ideas, but simply saying that Reagan had been able to bring political rivals together.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, running a distant third in the Democratic race, accused them of squabbling.