On The HUSTINGS

SENATOR CLINTON DODGES ON HUSBAND'S OBAMA CRITIQUE

Senator Clinton is declining to say directly whether she agrees with her husband that Democrats would "roll the dice" by voting for Senator Obama. In an interview yesterday morning on NBC's "Today Show," Mrs. Clinton repeatedly dodged questions about the knock on Mr. Obama as she tried to promote an endorsement from the Des Moines Register.

Pressed to address her husband's dig, she finally said, "He not only said that but the Register implied that." Mrs. Clinton also rolled out a new Web site yesterday, theHillaryIKnow.com, aimed at deepening her personal connection with voters. The site features testimonials from an array of supporters, both prominent allies and rank-and-file voters.

IOWA DEMS SAY PRESS FUMBLED CAUCUS RULES

A spokeswoman for the Iowa Democratic Party said Newsweek, NBC, and other press outlets were "incorrect" in reporting that sparsely populated rural areas get equal weight to urban zones in the caucus process. Touting the possible impact of John Edwards's appeal in Iowa's small towns, Newsweek reported: "Under Iowa's arcane caucus rules, a precinct where 25 people show up to vote gets the same number of delegates as a place that packs in 2,500."

"It's not statistically possible, if you game out what they said," the party spokeswoman, Carrie Giddins, told The New York Sun. State delegates are awarded based on past Democratic vote, so college towns won't be rewarded for a huge boost in caucus turnout, but dense urban precincts in Des Moines get a lot more weight than small rural ones.

BLOOMBERG PRAISES MCCAIN, BUT GIVES NO ENDORSEMENT

Mayor Bloomberg has nothing but good things to say about Senator McCain, but he made it clear his supportive words shouldn't be considered an endorsement. "Whether you agree with his politics or not, John McCain is a great American hero," Mr. Bloomberg said yesterday at a press conference in Brooklyn. "It's awful hard to ever say anything bad about John McCain. Doesn't mean you have to vote for him." Mr. Bloomberg said he thought it was interesting that Senator Lieberman is crossing party lines to back Mr. McCain, whom Mr. Bloomberg described as "sort of an independent guy" who has "never followed the strict dictates of his party."

Mr. McCain praised Mr. Bloomberg for his education record during a Republican debate last week. Mr. Bloomberg also heaped praise on Governor Schwarzenegger yesterday but said the former movie actor couldn't be vice president. "The constitution is clear," he said, trying to debunk a report in New York magazine that said his chief political aide, Kevin Sheekey, is trying to figure out how to get the California governor on a ticket with Mr. Bloomberg. "I don't know where that story came from, but the law would not allow it. Messrs. Bloomberg and Schwarzenegger men dined at the Palm restaurant in Los Angeles together on Saturday night. "He's a great guy," Mr. Bloomberg said. "He'd make a great vice president."

ASIAN-AMERICAN GROUP TARGETS OBAMA

An Asian-American group that just settled its dispute with Mrs. Clinton's campaign, 80–20 Initiative, is now targeting Mr. Obama. "Obama utters sweet words that defy logic," the group's founder, Shien Biau Woo, said in an e-mail to 80–20 members yesterday. Mr. Woo said Mr. Obama has refused to sign on to the group's pledge to boost the numbers of Asian Americans in top federal jobs and judgeships. Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Edwards recently signed on to a modified version of the pledge.

HUCKABEE TURNS OTHER CHEEK TO ROMNEY ATTACK

As Mitt Romney rolled out a tough new ad attacking Michael Huckabee for granting clemency to murderers, the former Arkansas governor is devoting his newest spot to an upbeat and explicit embrace of Christmas. "What really matters is the celebration of the birth of Christ," the sweater-clad preacher declares as "Silent Night" plays in the background.

ENDORSEMENT WATCH

John Edwards secured the backing yesterday of Iowa's first lady, Mari Culver, who cited his electability and his efforts on behalf of working-class Americans. Mrs. Culver is the wife of the state's Democratic governor, Chet Culver. She said she was not speaking for her husband, who has vowed to remain neutral in the primary contest.