Hillary's rich friend ambushes Obama

Barack Obama cited his youthful experimentation with drugs and John McCain noted his failed first marriage as their greatest moral failings at a forum on faith today.

The presidential election rivals shook hands and hugged briefly at the half-way point of the two hour discussion which both men used to appeal to religious voters who will be a key voting bloc in the November election.

In front of a crowd of 2,000 at the huge Saddlback Church in Orange country, California, the men were quizzed on their beliefs for an hour each by pastor Rick Warren, a prominent evangelical. Although billed as a forum on faith, the discussion also turned on key election issues such as the Iraq war and national security.

Asked what his greatest moral failure was, Mr Obama, who was first on stage, replied "I had a difficult youth. There were times when I experimented with drugs." He added that he had shown "fundamental selfishness" at times.

Mr McCain, asked the same questions, answered "My greatest moral failing, and I have been a very imperfect person, is the failure of my first marriage."

The men differed on abortion, with Mr Obama restating his support for legalised abortion and Mr McCain bluntly expressing his anti-abortion stance. Asked when a baby began to enjoy human rights, Mr Obama offered only a vague response, replying: "Answering that question with speficity is above my pay grade," while Mr McCain said simply: "From the moment of conception." He added, "I will be a pro-life president." Mr McCain, who adopted a daughter from Bangladesh, also called for making adoption easier.

Mr Obama said he knew that people who were pro-life would find his stance inadequate but he felt that the government should do more to prevent unwanted pregnancies and to help women.

Both men agreed that marriage was a union between a man and a woman although Mr Obama said he also supported civil unions for gay partners.

Asked to name three wise people they would listen to, Mr Obama named his wife Michelle and his maternal grandmother who lives in Hawaii, as well as a anumber of Democratic and Republican law makers.

In reply to the same question Mr McCain said he would listen to General David Petreaus, head of the US troops in Iraq, veteran civil rights leader John Lewis and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, who is a top adviser in his campaign.

Asked about America's greatest moral failure, Mr Obama said he felt it was the country's insufficient help for the poor, and underlined his point by quoting Jesus as saying "Whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me." Mr Obama, who has had to counter inaccurate beliefs that he is Muslim, stressed his Christian credentials throughout the conversation, frequently giving a Christian interpretation to his views and referring to the scriptures.

The Obama campaign has been diligently courting religious voters with a presence on Christian radio and blogs, and through American Values Forums; and other events.

Religious conservatives have largely supported the Republican Party, and many of Mr McCain's positions are more in line with conservative Christians, who comprise about one-quarter of the U.S. electorate, and who helped push President George W. Bush into office.

Mr McCain said the country's greatest short-coming was its failure to "devote ourselves to causes other than our self-interest."

Arter the twin Towers attacks, he said, there should have been a antional push for joining the Peace Corps and other volunteer organisations, a comment that may be seen by some as an indirect swipe at George Bush, who had urged more shopping to stimulate the economy in the aftermath of the attacks.

He also said he would pursue Osama bin Laden "To the gates of hell."

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