Clinton and Obama War of Words Rages On
As the Jan. 3 Iowa vote nears, Clinton and Obama war of words rages on.
DES MOINES -- Barack Obama launched a new "Hillary attacks" website Monday even as Hillary Rodham Clinton was telling voters in Clear Lake that he had ducked votes on guns and abortion as an Illinois state legislator.
The sharp exchanges between the two Democrats, a month before the state's leadoff presidential caucuses Jan. 3, reflect ping-ponging polls in a race too close to call.
Clinton's rhetoric in Clear Lake was her most pointed yet. "The Chicago Tribune said the 'present' votes were the equivalent of taking a pass. Well, instead of looking for political cover, and taking a pass, we need a president who will take a stand," she said, according to The Des Moines Register.
"Barack Obama doesn't need lectures in political courage from someone who followed George Bush to war in Iraq, gave him the benefit of the doubt on Iran … and opposed ethanol until she decided to run for president," spokesman Bill Burton shot back.
Obama's only public event Monday was a small roundtable discussion on credit problems at which he proposed a consumer bill of rights. Asked afterward about the escalating rhetoric, he refused to comment on Clinton's claim Monday that this candidacy promises "false hope."
"It's the silly season," Obama said. "I understand she's been quoting my kindergarten teacher in Indonesia."
Clinton's campaign sent an e-mail Sunday harking back to Obama's kindergarten and third-grade dreams of being president. The e-mail came after Obama said that, unlike some people, he hadn't been planning to run for president his whole life. "Sen. Obama rewrites history," read Clinton's headline.
"Panicked by poll numbers," Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said of the Clinton camp in an e-mail Monday to supporters.
Two recent polls, including a Nov. 25-28 Des Moines Register poll released over the weekend, showed Obama ahead of Clinton for the first time, although within the margin of error. Two polls released Monday by Iowa State University and AP-Pew Research Center, both done earlier in the month and with larger error margins than the Register poll, also were statistical ties but had Clinton ahead.
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