Obama accused of 'hit job' in toxic White House race
ROCK HILL, South Carolina (AFP) — A poisonous new exchange erupted on the Democratic campaign trail Wednesday as former president Bill Clinton accused his wife's chief rival Barack Obama of a political "hit job."
Hillary Clinton insisted that Democratic wounds would heal in time for the party to recapture the White House in November's election, but the bad blood was spilt anew as Obama himself came out firing against his tag-team opponents.
The running battles on the Democratic stump have sparked disquiet among party grandees heading into South Carolina's Democratic primary on Saturday and a slew of contests in more than 20 states on "Super Tuesday," February 5.
But the former president, stumping in South Carolina on his wife's behalf, hurled a venomous new broadside against the Illinois senator.
"I never heard a word of public complaint when Mr. Obama said Hillary was not truthful, no character, was poll-driven," he told startled reporters.
"When he put out a hit job on me at the same time he called her the senator from Punjab, I never said a word," he said, referring to an Obama campaign memo last year that attacked the Clintons' links to the Indian-American community.
"Shame on you!" the former president exclaimed, berating the reporters for picking up on Obama's attacks instead of focusing on the issues that he said mattered, such as the faltering US economy.
Simmering tensions between the two campaigns erupted late Monday at a Democratic debate, when Obama and the former first lady traded accusations of dishonesty, policy U-turns and campaign trickery.
Obama again accused the Clintons of twisting his remarks to suggest he was endorsing Republican ideas, and shot back at their claims that he has been inconsistent in his opposition to the war in Iraq -- which she voted for.
"The only thing I want to make sure of is that when he goes after me, that he goes after me on the basis of facts and policy differences, and, you know, stuff isn't just made up," Obama said on ABC's "Good Morning America" program.
And addressing a 700-strong rally of students at South Carolina's Winthrop University, Obama said some politicians "don't always say what they mean, or mean what they say."
"That is what this debate in this party is all about."
Obama spokesman Bill Burton added: "That fact that Hillary Clinton has praised Ronald Reagan and supported some of the very worst Republican ideas just underscores that she will say or do anything to get elected."
Hillary Clinton campaigned Wednesday in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with an eye on big states that could decide the Democratic nomination.
While her husband assailed Obama, the former first lady barely even referred to her rival, instead delving deep into healthcare, the mortgage crisis and education -- key concerns of her core blue collar voters.
The New York senator denied she was ceding South Carolina to Obama, where overwhelming black support has propelled the Illinois senator to a 19-point lead over Clinton, according to a new Zogby poll.
"We are going to have a vigorous contest, then we are going to have a united Democratic Party," she told reporters in Philadelphia after picking up the heavyweight endorsement of Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.
Clinton could take heart from a Field Poll survey in California, the biggest prize on Super Tuesday on February 5, which gave her a 39-27 percent lead over Obama among likely Democratic and independent voters.
Meanwhile Senator John McCain won the Republican party's caucuses in Louisiana while longshot candidate Ron Paul took second place, the state party said Wednesday, citing preliminary results.
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, a leading candidate for the Republican nomination, came in third, Louisiana Republican party Chairman Roger Villere said in a statement.
"I offer my congratulations to Senator John McCain on his success in the Louisiana caucuses," Villere said in a statement.
"Senator McCain is an American hero and this is further evidence that he enjoys strong support in Louisiana and throughout the South," he said.
Villere did not release any figures from the caucuses held Tuesday evening, stressing that that the results were preliminary.
The Louisiana contest, however, is not a battleground state in the race for the Republican nomination as candidates have focused on bigger prizes in South Carolina and Florida.
McCain, who won the New Hampshire primary earlier this month, took first place in the South Carolina contest on January 19.
Romney has captured Wyoming, Michigan and Nevada, while former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee won the Iowa caucus on January 3.
Republicans are now campaigning hard in Florida, which holds a crucial primary Tuesday that has become a do-or-die contest for former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who has focused his campaing in the large southern state.
A new Florida poll by the St. Petersburg Times on Wednesday showed McCain leading the state with 25 percent, followed by Romney with 23 percent. Giuliani trailed at 15 percent.
Giuliani Wednesday sidestepped the question whether he would continue his race if he loses the crucial contest in Florida.
Asked by CNN interviewer Larry King if he would fight on regardless of the result of Tuesday's Florida primary on which he has staked his high-risk campaign, Giuliani said: "I do not contemplate loss."
"We're going to win in Florida. I have a very good feeling about it," said the ex-New York mayor, who is betting everything on Florida after all but ignoring the early nominating contests in states where he has limited support.
