(CNSNews.com) - Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) said during the Democratic presidential debate Wednesday that combat troops may have to continue fighting in Iraq throughout the next president's first term.

When asked by debate moderator Tim Russert if they would have combat troops out of Iraq by the end of their first term, both Clinton and Obama avoided commitment, arguing that troops may remain in a fighting capacity through 2013.

"It is my goal to have all troops out by the end of my first term," Clinton said, adding that she will "immediately move" to bring troops home if she is inaugurated.

But Clinton would not commit to having troops out of the region by the end of her first term, noting that "it is very difficult to know what we're going to be inheriting."

Obama said that while he would immediately begin a "phased redeployment" of personnel from Iraq, troops would remain there "to protect U.S. bases and U.S. civilians as well as to engage in counter-terrorism activities in Iraq."

On Thursday, Cybercast News Service hit Capitol Hill to ask senators whether they agree with their colleagues' assertion that troops may remain in Iraq with combat roles for another six years. Cybercast News Service interviewed Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.).

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