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Obama, Clinton Tour Pennsylvania Armed With Critiques New and Old

Posted on: Monday, 21 April 2008, 06:00 CDT

By Jill Lawrence and Kathy Kiely

READING, Pa. -- Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton used a mix of personal charm, policy details and scathing TV ads Sunday in their drive for every last vote in Tuesday's primary.

Both candidates were closing with sharp personal critiques of each other and even sharper attacks in dueling TV ads over health care plans, energy plans and the influence of lobbyists in Washington.

Obama, speaking to a noisy crowd packed into the Reading High School gym, acknowledged that there is a gap at this point between his call to set a new tone in politics, and the actual tone of the race. "There have been times where you know if you get elbowed enough, eventually you start elbowing back," he said.

In what he called closing arguments to undecided voters, Obama said he does not take money from federal lobbyists or political action committees -- a recent point of contention between the camps.

While campaigning in Johnstown, Pa., with Gov. Ed Rendell and Rep. John Murtha, Clinton accused Obama of misleading voters. "I'm sure you've all seen my opponent's ad, he's run it about a billion times, where he says, 'I don't take money from oil companies,'" Clinton said.

"Well, whatever," she added scornfully. "Nobody takes money from oil companies. It's against the law to take money from oil companies. It's been against the law for 100 years to take money from oil companies."

Clinton opened a new line of attack on Sunday after Obama favorably compared likely Republican nominee John McCain with President Bush. "Either Democrat would be better than John McCain. And all three of us would be better than George Bush," Obama said, adding he sees himself as the only one who'd "really change things in a fundamental way."

Clinton conceded that McCain has a distinguished record but said he would follow "the same failed policies" of the Bush administration. "We need a nominee who will take on John McCain, not cheer on John McCain," she said.

Obama was campaigning Sunday night with Sen. Robert Casey and Caroline Kennedy in Scranton, where Clinton spent girlhood summers. In Reading, he talked about his plans to cut taxes for middle- and lower-income voters and help them pay for college and health coverage.

He also said: "I will always tell you what I think. I will always tell you where I stand. I will be honest with you about the challenges that we face. I will listen to you when we disagree ... and we can disagree without being disagreeable."

The Illinois senator then quickly demonstrated what he meant.

When a woman asked what he would do about a zero-tolerance policy toward drugs in public housing, he said the government has a right to require that tenants are "not involved in the drug trade."

Invited to criticize President Clinton's welfare overhaul in the 1990s, Obama said some changes were needed to make sure everyone tried to find jobs and support their families. He said poor mothers, however, should get more help with transportation, child care and health coverage. "I speak as somebody whose father left when I was 2," Obama said. "Being a father ... means actually being a part of your child's life," providing financial and emotional support.

The answers on welfare and public housing struck a couple of undecided voters in the crowd.

"He was very honest with people that fathers need to step up and we're not going to tolerate drug dealers and making excuses. I was surprised that he was so candid," said Theresa Johnson, 42, of Mohnton, the first assistant district attorney in Berks County.

David Skaggs, a member of the Pipeliners Union Local 798, introduced Clinton in Johnstown. Skaggs said he is originally from Arkansas, where Clinton was first lady of the state before she became first lady of the nation. "I've seen her family through thick and thin. I know she will fight," he said.

Murtha predicted a comfortable victory Tuesday for Clinton. "I'd be surprised if she doesn't win by 10 points," the congressman said. (c) Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Source: USA TODAY

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