Big Three on NIE

Both Clinton and Edwards were queried by moderator Wolf Blitzer about their acknowledgment that neither of them read the National Intelligence Estimate in the runup to the vote authorizing the war in Iraq.

Clinton passed on the opportunity to apologize, saying she was "thoroughly briefed" and "knew all the arguments." She again sought to steer the discussion away from past votes and into the future of policy in the country.

Edwards, too, said he "had the information I needed" to make the decision. He went on to praise Obama for his early opposition to the war. "He was right, I was wrong," said Edwards -- a comment that drew scattered applause from the audience. Obama said he didn't think that Clinton's and Edwards's votes in support of the war were a "disqualifier" for them to serve as president.

-- Chris Cillizza