The sharpened rhetoric came as the Democratic rivals steeled themselves for a drawn-out and fierce battle to determine who faces off against John McCain, who just wrapped up the Republican nomination, in the November US presidential election.
The veteran Arizona senator on Wednesday secured President George W. Bush's endorsement after wins in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont primaries the night before sealed the Republican presidential nomination that had been his for the taking for weeks. Clinton declared on Wednesday that her primary victories a day earlier in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island had reordered the race in her favor -- and she hinted she would be willing to have Obama as her vice presidential running mate.
But the former first lady faced daunting electoral math as she tries to erase Obama's lead in the all-important delegate count used in determining the nominee. Overall, she showed a gain of only 12 delegates and had few opportunities to make up the deficit in the races to come. But party officials were worried that the protracted battles would hamper the party's White House chances. "The longer this campaign goes on, the more difficult it will be to unify and heal," said Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, who is neutral. His state will be the next major battleground, holding its primary on April 22.
In the overall race for the nomination, Obama had 1,567 delegates after picking up on Wednesday five new endorsements by superdelegates -- senior party officials and lawmakers who are free to vote as they choose in the national convention. Clinton had 1,462 delegates. It takes 2,025 delegates to secure the Democratic nomination. In Tuesday's contests, Clinton won at least 185 delegates and Obama won at least 173. There were still 12 more delegates to be awarded -- 10 in Texas and two in Ohio.
Obama -- smarting from "very negative" attacks he said factored into Clinton's win -- took the offensive, targeting her claims that she is more experienced in handling foreign policy. "Was she negotiating treaties? Was she handling crises? The answer is no," Obama said. "She made a series of arguments on why she should be a superior candidate. I think it's important to examine that argument." His aides also questioned why she has not released her tax returns -- something which she said she would do around April 15, the US tax deadline.
The Democratic rivals had bruising campaigns last week, with Clinton arguing he was getting a free ride with the media, questioning his sincerity in opposing the North American Free Trade Agreement and hinting he is not ready to be commander in chief in a crisis. Clinton on Wednesday ticked off her national security qualifications, listing a series of events in which she played a role, including peace talks in Northern Ireland, the Kosovo refugee crisis and standing up for women's rights in China. She also cited her work on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Their feuding and the likelihood that the race could stretch into August when the party holds its nomination convention troubled Democratic scions.
Poll shows McCain trails Clinton and Obama
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain trails Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in hypothetical matchups, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Illinois Sen. Obama leads McCain by 12 percentage points -- 52 percent to 40 percent; New York Sen. Clinton leads McCain by 6 points -- 50 percent to 44 percent, the poll found. McCain, an Arizona senator, has turned his attention to the the Nov. 4 general election after clinching his party's nomination on Tuesday night. Clinton and Obama are still locked in a close battle for the Democratic nomination. McCain, endorsed by US President George W. Bush, fares poorly against Clinton and Obama among Americans who disapprove of the president and Americans opposing the war, The Washington Post said. About two-thirds of Americans disapprove of the way Bush is handling his job and think the war was not worth fighting, the newspaper said. Age might be another obstacle for 71-year-old McCain, who if elected would be the oldest first-term president. Washington Reuters
Benzer Haberler 
World
