Clinton, Obama Make Final Pennsylvania Push

Clinton and Obama take tough stance on Iran's nuclear ambitions.

ByABC News via logo
April 22, 2008, 10:48 AM

PHILADELPHIA<br>April 22, 2008 &#151; -- Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama tried to get the last laugh Monday night, but they turned serious again this morning as they scratched for votes even as Pennsylvanians lined up at the polls.

The two Democratic presidential rivals topped off six weeks of often bitter battles by appearing on WWE's pro wrestling show "Raw" on the eve of the Pennsylvania primary.

"You can call me Hillrod," said Clinton of her WWE persona, and Obama asked the audience, "Do you smell what Barack is cooking?"

While Clinton held a late-night rally in Philadelphia, Obama laughed through his appearance on Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show."

But there was a different tone this morning, as both candidates appeared on "Good Morning America" to discuss a nuclear Iran and their expectations for the outcome of today's primary vote.

In an interview with ABC News' Chris Cuomo, Clinton expressed her toughest stance yet on Iran's nuclear ambitions and the potential threat the country poses to American allies.

"If Iran were to launch a nuclear attack on Israel what would our response be?" Clinton said. "I want the Iranians to know that if I'm the president, we will attack Iran. That's what we will do. There is no safe haven."

"Whatever stage of development they might be in their nuclear weapons program in the next 10 years during which they may foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel, we would be able to totally obliterate them," Clinton said.

Clinton's tough talk on Iran came a day after she launched a TV ad in Pennsylvania that included the ominous face of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Clinton introduced bin Laden into the campaign along with the narrator's voice warning, "It's the toughest job in the world. You need to be ready for anything."

When asked how he would respond to a nuclear attack by Iran, Obama told ABC News' Robin Roberts that he would do everything he could to prevent the country from having weapons in the first place.

"I was absolutely clear about the fact that if Iran used nuclear weapons on Israel, or any of our allies, we would respond forcefully and swiftly," said Obama.

"But, in some ways, this hypothetical presupposes a failure to begin with," said Obama. "We shouldn't allow Iran to have nuclear weapons, period."

"I have consistently said that I will do everything in my power to prevent them from having it and I have not ruled out military force as an option," he said.