WASHINGTON (AP) — Steady drips of information about a horrific night in Libya are fueling Republican arguments designed to fire up the conservative base and undercut potential presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Democratic and Republican strategists sharply disagree on the issue's power to influence elections.

But Democrats are still struggling to move beyond last September's terrorist attack on a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, which killed four American officials.

Democrats argue that an independent inquiry and nine congressional hearings leave little new to say on the matter. But newly revealed revisions of White House talking points issued soon after the attack are feeding conservatives' belief that a major scandal may still be at hand.

Democrats say Republicans are simply desperate to fire up their demoralized base.

CHARLES BABINGTON,Associated Press

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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