Edwards, the party's former vice presidential nominee, depicted Clinton as the embodiment of the political status quo, noting the amounts of money she's taken from interest groups.
"Will she be the person who brings about change in this this country?" asked Edwards, whose attacks were the most persistent. "I believe in Santa Claus. I believe in the tooth fairy. But I don't think that's going to happen."
While Clinton defended herself at times, she seemed unrattled by the attacks. Mostly, she was content to restate her positions and to scoff at the notion that her election would not represent significant change.
"I have been standing against the Republicans, George Bush and Dick Cheney," she said, "and I will continue to do so, and I think Democrats know that."
One question which her rivals were eager to discuss when given the change was whether Clinton can win a general election.
Polls show that over 40 percent of all voters say they have ruled out voting for her in November. At the same time, she is winning hypothetical matchups with the various Republicans nominees, most of whom talk of her as if she were already nominated.
"Part of the reasons Republicans are so obsessed with you is that's a fight they're very comfortable having," said Obama, who had announced in advance his intention to be more aggressive. "What we don't need is another eight years of bickering."
Edwards chimed in, saying telling Clinton that the Republicans "want to run again you."
Finally, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson tried to put a stop to the sniping, even as he reminded viewers that governors like himself, not senators like Clinton, get elected president.
"I'm hearing this holier than thou attitude toward Senator Clinton and it's bothering me," he said, "because it's pretty close to personal attacks we don't need."
