BEDFORD, N.H. -- Six Democratic presidential candidates gathered in New Hampshire to debate before 1,000 seniors at an AARP-sponsored forum. Medicare was a hot topic but gay marriage made an appearance at the forum, too.

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Janet Wu Reports On Candidates

NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported that the Democrats who took the stage In New Hampshire Tuesday appeared to agree that gay marriage is a debate best left to individual states. None of the candidates support gay marriages -- even Rep. Richard Gephardt, whose daughter is a lesbian, made that clear.

"I am not for gay marriage laws. I am for civil unions," said Gephardt.

"I'm opposed to marriage. I am in favor of rights being protected for people. I think that is what the Legislature has to deal with," said Sen. John Kerry.

One issue that did draw the candidates' enthusiasm was Medicare. All but one candidate dared to tell AARP it is wrong. On Tuesday, AARP announced it would spend $7 million to run an ad throughout the country supporting a $400 billion bill to expand Medicare.

"I think this bill is a mistake, a Trojan horse. It gives benefits now. It admits competition against Medicare, " said former Gen. Wesley Clark.

"What's wrong with AARP coming out with this bill is that they are falling into the trap that has been set by the pharmaceutical companies and the HMOs. They will never do what's right for the people of this country," said Gephardt.

While AARP may like the bill, some seniors greeted with silence the one candidate who wasn't ready to trash the compromise.

"I want to take a few days. I'm not going to give a knee-jerk reaction and say, 'no way,'" said Sen. Joe Lieberman.

Physician and frontrunner Howard Dean drew the most fire from his opponents for supporting Medicare cuts in 1996.

"I'm the only one up here who has ever taken care of a patient and I have no intention of cutting your benefits," said Dean.

"Holding up a stethoscope and saying, 'I have no intention of cutting people's (benefits),' doesn't, in fact, mean that you haven't," said Kerry.

With Gephardt leading in Iowa and Dean in New Hampshire, most of the attacks were aimed at the frontrunners.

John Edwards accused Gephardt of being too far to the left and Dean labeled Gephardt as a Washington insider.