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Rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination highlighted their differences and raised money Saturday, with the high-flying Howard Dean getting much of the fire and complaining of "gang tackling." Six of the nine candidates headed to the Iowa Democratic Party's biggest annual fund-raising dinner, moderated by New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. They were making their case to more than 7,500 activists in a state where precinct caucuses begin the presidential nominating season. Clinton rejected arguments that Democrats were fielding a second-rate field, saying they reminded her of what was said the year her husband won the presidency in 1992. "Never forget pundits and polls don't pick presidents, people pick presidents and that's what's going to happen," she said to cheers. Herself the center of political speculation, Clinton gave the field this cycle her seal of approval, saying she'll be backing the nominee. "The candidates we have in this campaign are ... the most accomplished, in terms of public service, that we've had since 1960," she said. "One of them will be successful." She also argued that "America is ready for a change and America is ready for a Democratic president again." Throughout the day, the politicians rallied, gave speeches and paraded through the streets. It was part political drama, part theater. Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry took to the ice for a hockey game with firefighters, declaring he was "fighting straight ahead right at it." "What's at stake in this race is leadership, someone who can beat George Bush," Kerry said.
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