Clinton, Obama Sharpen Words

By Kathy Kiely

AUSTIN — A sometimes-bitter contest for the Democratic presidential nomination is coming down to questions of leadership and personal style, as Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama argue over who is best able to change President Bush’s policies.

Meeting for a crucial debate Thursday in Bush’s home state, Clinton evoked her 35 years of experience in public life as her chief asset. Obama suggested she was part of divisive politics and promised to “stop the endless bickering” in Washington.

The faceoff was the first of two debates before critical contests in Texas and Ohio on March 4.

Clinton was alternately aggressive and emotional, provoking hisses at one point from the audience when she accused Obama of peddling “change you can Xerox” by lifting lines from a speech by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

She earned a standing ovation by the night’s end with a closing statement that evoked images of injured war veterans and prompted Obama to reach out, clasp her hand and pat her on the back. “Whatever happens, we’re going to be fine,” Clinton said, looking at her rival.

For Clinton, fighting to reverse an Obama surge that threatens to swamp her once-dominant campaign, the next 12 days could prove decisive. Her husband, former president Bill Clinton, has said the race “is going to be determined by what happens in Texas and Ohio.”

Vermont and Rhode Island also vote March. 4

Heading into the weekend, Obama has momentum on his side. The Illinois senator has won the last 11 primaries and caucuses. His latest victory came from Democrats who live abroad, announced Thursday.

Obama leads Clinton by fewer than 100 delegates.

Clinton has an edge among “super delegates,” the party insiders and elected officials who go to the national convention free to vote for whomever they please. She shrugged off a question about whether she might use those votes to block Obama in the event of a deadlocked convention.

“It will sort itself out,” Clinton said. “We will have a nominee, and we will have a unified Democratic party.” Obama, who has won more popular votes, said he believes the will of voters should prevail and “is what ultimately will determine who our next nominee is going to be.”

During their 90-minute debate, Clinton and Obama tried to highlight their differences on health care, Iraq, Cuba and the significance of the lines Obama borrowed from Patrick, one of his chief supporters.

“If your candidacy is going to be about words, they should be your own words,” Clinton said. Obama derided the Clinton campaign’s accusations of plagiarism as “silly.”

Obama said he “admired” Clinton for trying to initiate health care reform during her husband’s administration, but he added, “She went about it the wrong way” by holding closed-door planning meetings.

Both Democrats agreed on new diplomatic initiatives in the wake of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro’s resignation. They disagreed on whether the next president should meet with Raul Castro, who is replacing his older brother. Obama said he would; Clinton said only if the younger Castro moves toward democracy.

The debate at the University of Texas was sponsored by CNN and Univision. Clinton and Obama campaign this weekend in Texas and Ohio, before Ohio’s debate Tuesday in Cleveland. (c) Copyright 2005 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.