Things just keep getting uglier within the Democratic Party. Presidential rivals Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards all exchanged blows during a lively debate today in Chicago.

To the applause of 17,000 union members at Soldier Field, the home of the Chicago Bears, Obama defended his recent comments that he would go after al Qaeda targets inside Pakistan with or without the approval of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

Clinton and fellow Sen. Chris Dodd questioned Obama’s judgment, Dodd going so far as to call Obama’s comments “irresponsible.”

“You can think big,” Clinton said, “but remember you shouldn’t always say everything you think if you’re running for president because it has consequences across the world. And we don’t need that right now.”

Obama fired back, asking why his judgment was being questioned by Senate rivals who voted to authorize the war in Iraq. Clinton, Dodd, Edwards and Sen. Joe Biden all fitting that bill.

“I find it amazing that those who helped authorize and engineer the biggest foreign policy disaster in our generation are now criticizing me,” Obama, an early opponent of the war, told union members who gathered in Chicago ahead of a AFL-CIO executive council to begin discussion of a presidential endorsement.

The federation needs a two-thirds majority to make an endorsement and is not likely to reach that requirement this year with Clinton, Edwards and Obama all receiving significant amounts of support.

Edwards blasted Clinton as a Washington insider, continuing a fight that started this weekend at a debate where she defended taking money from lobbyists who represent special interests before Congress.

Edwards and Obama both urged their fellow Democrats to stop accepting funds from Washington lobbyists.

“You will never see me on the cover of Fortune magazine saying I am the candidate of that big corporate America is betting on,” Edwards said, referring to a profile of Clinton in last month’s issue.

Clinton has acquired more than $400,000 from lobbyists from special interest groups, more than any other candidate in both parties. Obama has received more than $60,000.

Clinton, currently the frontrunner in national polls for the Democratic presidential nomination, commented that she had noticed a number of her fellow candidates dropping her name.

“I’m here because I think we need to change America and it’s not to get in fights with Democrats,” Clinton said. “For 15 years, I have stood up against the right-wing machine and I’ve come out stronger. So if you want a winner who knows how to take them on, I’m your girl.”

Edwards, who currently trails Clinton and Obama is deadlocked in a three-way struggle with them for the crucial kick-off state of Iowa. Edwards has pushed particularly hard for union support and has made it an important part of his strategy to win nomination…

Politics junkies everywhere are eating this up. With Iowa steadily approaching, the gloves are coming off and fast.

Healthy debate is good; however there seems to be way more in-fighting going on between Democrats than in the GOP. So far, none of the candidates have been attacking below the belt.

But with time running out before Iowa I wouldn’t be surprised to see Democrats get vicious. Keep it clean guys…

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