Democratic contenders for the 2008 US presidential campaign have attacked President Bush's policy on Iraq in the first televised debate of the November 2008 election.
Speakers at the South Carolina State University debate called on Mr Bush not to veto a bill passed by both houses of Congress that sets a timetable for withdrawing US troops from Iraq.
"If this president does not get us out of Iraq, when I am president, I will," pledged Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.
But Ms Clinton found herself on the receiving end of criticism moments later when former North Carolina senator John Edwards said she or anyone else who voted to authorise the war should "search their conscience".
Mr Edwards, in the Senate at the time, also cast his vote for the invasion, although he has since apologised for it.
Democrat Senator Barack Obama said: "We are one signature away from ending this war." He said if Mr Bush won't change his mind about vetoing the bill, Democrats need to work on rounding up enough Republican votes to override him."
Of the eight participating in the debate, four voted earlier in the day to support legislation that cleared Congress and requires the beginning of a troop withdrawal by October 1st. The legislation sets a goal of a complete withdrawal by April 1, 2008.
In addition to Mr Obama and Ms Clinton, Senators Joe Biden of Delaware and Chris Dodd of Connecticut cast votes in favour of the legislation.
Former Alaska senator Mike Gravel and Representative Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, both lesser-funded contenders, also participated in the debate.