Democrats' Pennsylvania Brawl Intensifies

SCRANTON, Pa., April 20, 2008— -- In the final push before the Pennsylvania primary Tuesday, the Democratic candidates traded some of their sharpest jabs yet, again raising concerns that when the brawl is over, the party will not be able to unite for the fight for the presidency.

Barack Obama accused Hillary Clinton of "slash and burn politics." Clinton countered that he is all flash and no substance, and she claimed he is now throwing the kitchen sink at her.

Obama conceded that Clinton would be a better president than George Bush. "But that's not saying very much," he quickly added.

Obama said all three candidates -- including presumptive Republican nominee John McCain -- would be better than Bush.

Clinton took issue with Obama's apparent olive branch for the Arizona senator.

"We need a nominee who will take on John McCain, not cheer on John McCain," she said.

Obama also launched a new ad, responding to Clinton's previous attacks and accusing her of "11th-hour smears, paid for by lobbyists."

Clinton's campaign countered with another attack ad of its own, charging, "He couldn't answer tough questions in the debate, so Barack Obama is making false charges about Hillary's health plan."

Supporters of both campaigns have gone even further.

A retired major general who supports Obama raised Clinton's claims that she dodged sniper fire during her 1996 trip to Bosnia. Walter Stewart called that a "dishonor," and said it should disqualify her from laying wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

A Clinton supporter is circulating a mailer raising the issue of Obama's acquaintance with Bill Ayers, a Chicago professor who was once a member of the violent Weather Underground.

The mailer, created by union activist Rick Sloan of the International Association of Machinists, claims Republicans will "channel Joe McCarthy" in the fall, turning Obama's "change we can believe in" into "change no patriotic American could stomach."

Both campaigns have disavowed those particular statements.

But Democratic Party activists in Pennsylvania said they worry the bitterness could make it difficult to mend fences once the dust settles.