Minutes From Clinton’s Home State, Obama Attacks N.Y. Opponent

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The New York Sun

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — In the newest phase of the Democratic primary campaign, Senator Obama is increasing the frequency of his attacks against his rival, Senator Clinton, a day after suffering his first major setback in the New Hampshire primaries.

In a speech made to a packed gymnasium here, just minutes from Ms. Clinton’s home state, Mr. Obama rolled out a series of barbs aimed at portraying Mrs. Clinton as an entitled, establishment politician who has walked in lock step with President Bush on major foreign policy issues.

“I am not running because of some long held ambitions and I know some people here have gone through my kindergarten papers,” Mr. Obama said revisiting a recent exchange between Mr. Obama’s and Mrs. Clinton’s camps over the candidates’ motives for running for president.

He went on to hammer Mrs. Clinton for her vote on the Iraq war, to accuse her of being an agent for the status quo as opposed to change, and to say her policies were being decided by polls. “We can’t poll test every position because we are worried about what Mitt or Rudy will say,” he said.

An e-mail to Mrs. Clinton’s camp seeking comment was not returned.

The combativeness of Mr. Obama’s speech, delivered with a weary rasp in his voice, will likely set the tone for the upcoming campaigns to win delegates in the Nevada and South Carolina primaries being held on January 19 and January 26.

Just days ago Mr. Obama, was riding a wave of popularity following his victory in the Iowa caucuses . But that momentum was sapped after his defeat at the hands of Mrs. Clinton in the New Hampshire primaries on Tuesday. Mr. Obama was polling ahead of Mrs. Clinton just prior to the vote and her victory seems to have breathed new life into her campaign.

New Jersey’s presidential primary — like New York’s — falls on Super Tuesday, February 5, when voters in 21 states will cast ballots.

Mr. Obama is scheduled to be in South Carolina today. The Palmetto State will become a focus of both candidates, as victory there could shore up support in states like New York and New Jersey.

“We’ve been backers of the Clintons but now that Obama is in the picture we need to sit down and think about what is best for the country and what is best for us,” said a 29-year-old African American woman, Wolsfie Pierre, who works in an insurance agency and is still undecided about who she is going to vote for.

“He’s been talking about change but it’s not clear to me how he plans to implement this change and hopefully I will have clearer idea,” said Ms. Pierre while standing in a line outside St. Peter’s College that wrapped around two full city blocks .

About 4,000 people were in attendance for Mr. Obama’s speech.


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