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Aug 19, 2007 6:30 am US/Pacific

Obama Parries As Rivals Attack Lack Of Experience

Democratic Presidential Hopefuls Gather For Latest Debate

Slideshow: 2008 Presidential Hopefuls

CBS News Interactive: Campaign 2008

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) ― Democrat Barack Obama on Sunday accused his presidential rivals of "political maneuvering" for saying he lacks experience and he insisted he could handle the rigors of international diplomacy.

The candidates began their latest debate by critiquing the freshman senator's recent comments on Pakistan and whether he would meet with foreign leaders - including North Korea's head of state - without conditions.

"To prepare for this debate I rode in the bumper cars at the state fair," the Illinois lawmaker said to laughter and applause from the audience at Drake University.

The debate capped an intense week of politicking in Iowa, an early voting state in the process of picking a nominee. The Iowa State Fair is a magnet for White House hopefuls each presidential election. This year was no exception, especially for Democrats who swept into the state after a GOP straw poll last week.