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by John McCormick
NASHUA, N.H. – Sen. Hillary Clinton suggested Sunday afternoon that her chief rival for the Democratic presidential nomination is a calculating politician and that his record needs more scrutiny.
"Sen. Obama has four pollsters, if I'm not mistaken," Clinton told reporters, after finishing a rally here.
An Obama campaign spokesman had not yet responded to an e-mail asking whether the senator does, indeed, have four pollsters.
Clinton, meanwhile, called last night's debate a "defining moment" in the campaign because it "finally began to draw the contrasts between us."
The New York Democrat suggested voters do not yet know enough about Obama (D-Ill.).
"Sen. Obama has said himself that records matter, and so, therefore, I think the records of all of us matter," she said.
Answering questions from reporters for roughly 18 minutes, Clinton called the current battle a "very interesting" election.
"You have on that stage last night, an African-America, a Latino and a woman," she said. "These are all history making candidacies, and I would be surprised if there wasn't an enormous amount interest and enthusiasm. I feel it for me. I see it for Sen. Obama. I think that's good for our country. So, I applaud everybody who is getting involved in this campaign. I certainly applaud his incredible ability to, you know, make a speech that really leaves people inspired…My point is that when the cameras disappear, when you're there in the Oval Office having to make these tough decisions, I believe I am better prepared and ready to lead our country."
Clinton said she enjoyed the chance during last night's debate for the Democrats to join the Republicans on stage for handshakes and hugs.
"I thought it was a really interesting moment," she said. "It's an important, you know, symbol of how we have to respect each other and work to achieve the best for our country."
Clinton repeated a message she used earlier during her rally here, but also include a reference to a leader in Obama's New Hampshire campaign.
"If you are going to be railing about lobbyists, and then you have the chair of your campaign who is a major lobbyist in this state, I think that is an interesting piece of information for voters," she said.
(Obama's campaign maintains that the involvement of Jim Demers, a state lobbyist, does not violate his self-imposed ban on accepting contributions from federal lobbyists.)
"If you are going to give a speech against the war in Iraq, which was a very good speech, in 2002, and you say you are never going to vote for funding for the war, and then in 2004, you say you don't know how you would have voted, and you thought George Bush was doing a good job with the war," Clinton continued. "Then, when you're in the Senate in 2007, you vote for $300 million worth of funding for the war, I think that's relevant information…And on and on and on. And I think voters who are judging each and every one of us as we move toward this important election, should have information that enables them to draw the distinctions."
With Obama now tied in a New Hampshire poll, Clinton said she wanted to better clarify the differences among the candidates.
"I thought the timing was right last night," she said. "The debate opened the door, and I thought it was the time to draw the contrasts. Voters in New Hampshire are fiercely and famously independent and they want to know answers."
Clinton said her campaign is moving forward, and not looking back at its third-place finish in last week's Iowa caucuses.
"If a campaign doesn't evolve, it probably is dead," she said. "I don’t intend for it to be anything other than a winning campaign, so we're just going to keep moving and reaching out and trying attract as many voters of all ages as we possibly can."
Clinton was also asked about a cross on a bracelet she was wearing. The question came from Mike Flannery of Chicago-based CBS 2.
"Talk about the secular press," Clinton said, drawing a laugh. "It's a very special bracelet to me, personally."
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Have questions about what's happening on the ground in New Hampshire, or anything else related to race for the White House or Election 2008? On Monday, we'll host a live video chat at 12:30 pm central time from Manchester, N.H. with Tribune journalists who are covering the campaign.
E-mail your questions to us and we'll answer as many as time allows.
Comments
What a crock! The Queen B says Obama is "calculating." Is there any other politician out there more calculating than the Queen B? No. She says Obama has four pollsters. Was there a president who governed more based on the polls than Slick Willy? No. Does the Queen B have a flotilla of pollsters? You bet. The Queen B is a joke and cartoon, but she's not very funny.
Posted by: John D | January 6, 2008 6:17 PM
Hilary is starting to look very desparate and ugly. She was horrible in last night's debate, especially with the "false hope" statement, that was just low.
Face it Hilary, we are tired of you and your husband. Americans want to move on. We don't to go back to the 90s, We want to move on to the future.
Go Obama. O-BA-MA O-BA-MA
Posted by: dada | January 6, 2008 6:46 PM
We all know what happened in the Clinton Oval Office when the cameras disappear, and it has nothing to do with making tough decisions and everything to do with poor judgement.
Posted by: nadeem | January 6, 2008 6:49 PM
Hillary's experience in the White House was to remain angry at her husbands infidelities because they might cost her the opportunity she is trying to exploit now. Her character and his leave much to be desired. Yes the Clinton years were better than the Bush ones but any Presidents years could easily top Bush. Look to the future of America not its past. Barack Obama and his family show good character and wisdom. Barack and Roll in 2008. It is the best thing for this great country of ours. Time to be proud of our leadership in the world again.
Posted by: Raul Pedraza | January 6, 2008 7:17 PM
Hillary deserves the 2nd Hammering she's about to receive in New Hampshire.
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She will say anything and stoop to any smear to cling to power. Times up Hillary.
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Posted by: PulSamsara | January 6, 2008 7:23 PM
Hillary refers to what she calls the "contrasts" between her and Obama. Yes.
She is a gutter fighter with no scruples. Obama is a quality person who wants to unite the people of the country. Dirt or sunshine. Take your pick.
Posted by: Grant | January 6, 2008 8:23 PM
NO more-
Hillary Clinton dynasty,
John McCain's Politics of Fear,
John Edward's Politics of Convenience,
Corrupted Health Industry.
ITS SICKENING.
!!! ITS TIME FOR CHANGE !!!
Hillary Clinton and John Edwards Voted for War on Iraq.
Barack Obama opposed this and he was right.
Hillary Clinton supported Bush on aid to Pakistan for wrong reasons.
Barack Obama opposed this and he was right.
John Edwards is using populist theme for convenience in this election and is a big hypocrite.
Remember that John Edwards was a Trial Lawyer, worked for a Hedge Fund Company and has 28000 sq ft mansion and $1200 hair cuts.
Barack Obama is a community organizer from the beginning and is honest person and refused to be a Trial Lawyer.
BARACK OBAMA's JUDGEMENT TRIUMPHS OVER HILLARY CLINTON'S WRONG EXPERIENCE.
BARACK OBAMA'S HONESTY TRIUMPHS OVER JOHN EDWARDS'S HYPOCRISY.
BARACK OBAMA'S POLITICS OF HOPE TRIUMPHS OVER JOHN MCCAIN'S POLITICS OF FEAR.
!!! VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA !!!
Posted by: jkojs | January 6, 2008 8:32 PM
After Britain, Israel, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Chile, Argentina, Bangladesh and the Philippines, it's about time the world's only superpower -- USA -- was led by a woman. And who better than Hillary? For anyone above the age of 21, it is so plain obvious that she's the best Democratic candidate.
Posted by: Nepali | January 6, 2008 8:35 PM
Is little johnny coming over from the "Dark" side?????
Posted by: Raving Loon | January 6, 2008 8:40 PM
Why are people on this blog so threatened by Hillary Clinton that the need to resort to name calling?
The only thing that I can assume by the tone is that people are threatened by the image of a strong, capable woman in a leadership role. She is not the moster than people characterize her; rather, she is a human being.
It's one thing to disagree with her on the issues, but it is quite another to demonize her.
Posted by: Jan | January 6, 2008 10:27 PM
Loon, I remain on the side of light, decency, low taxes, less spending and having a clue about Islamic terrorists. It just kills me when THE most calculating politician and most poll-driven politician says others are just what she is and she makes it a negative about that person. I'm no Obama fan, but he is by far the better person than the Queen B. Mind you, however, Obama is not even remotely qualified to be president, nor do I care for his views.
Posted by: John D | January 6, 2008 10:55 PM
Go Hillary! The Republicans are afraid of her. More afraid of her than Sadam! hahahaha. . .
Posted by: Lou | January 7, 2008 12:25 AM
It's written in the stars...The most corrupt canidate has the most corrupt campagain manager in scumbag Terry McAuillfe...perfect type casting.
Posted by: Jason Baker | January 7, 2008 1:05 AM
Hillary has proven once and for all that she is a has-been. She's gasping her last corrupt gasps as she resorts to her predictable political dirty tricks. Nobody is threatened by her (including Republicans) and nobody is jealous of her (an odd argument of her campaign. Sorry Hill, you're old hat.
Posted by: Denise | January 7, 2008 2:08 AM
It's actually hilarious to see Hillary accuse another politician of being "calculating. My goodness, I thought that was her middle name.
And as for the polls, well all through 2007 her chief strategist Mark Penn was fixated on them, in line with the campaign's inevitability strategy. On Hillary's official website Penn argued back in September that she was actually surging in Iowa.
Slight misinterpretation there. Maybe Hillary should take a leaf out of Obama's book and use some of that cash of hers to employ more pollsters - or at least strategists who know what they're doing. Because Mark Penn certainly doesn't.
Posted by: Mark O | January 7, 2008 2:36 AM
Loon, I remain on the side of light, decency, low taxes, less spending
Posted by: John D |
January 6, 2008 10:55 PM
little johnny,i realize you're programmed to make goofy comments,but if you will,take one moment and please explain the less spending in your comment.
How did we get close to a 10 trillion $ deficit from 5 trillion while your party had complete control?
Posted by: Raving Loon | January 7, 2008 9:45 AM
"Loon, I remain on the side of light,"
Posted by: John D |
That's taking quite a stand there, Johnny. I guess everyone else supports those nasty Forces of Darkness? Gimme a break.
Posted by: Jones | January 7, 2008 12:17 PM
When you get right down to it, I need Hillary Clinton as my President like I need Mike Tyson as my mailman. Whatever strengths that she has. I don't really care about and certainly DO NOT want her representing me or MY COUNTRY ~ EVER. She was a crappy lawyer, a crappy First Lady, a crappy Senator, and a crappy WIFE. When the President needs the FULL support of a Laura Bush or Jackie Kennedy type at his side - who needs a Hillary to have her own agenda and leveraging her husbands clout to try to "shove" her dubious master plan through to the public. No Thank you, Hillary. Hers is not the agenda of the people, and SHAME on the great state New York for bringing her into your Senate - what has she done for YOU ? The reality is that if she did not get the NY Senate seat, we know that she would have pandered for Arkansas then Illinois till she did steal a Senate seat for herself. She plays us all like pawns in her game of political scheming - but ultimately who does she represent other than herself? I simply don't TRUST her, and I don't LIKE her. Any-who, please God , steer us away from Hillary Clinton in the New Hampshire Primary. My vote stands as first; Any candidate that is NOT Hillary Clinton and secondly; the candidate that I consider the best person for the job.
Posted by: An American Patriot | January 7, 2008 2:20 PM