[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Sign-in] [Mail] [Setup] [Help]
Status: Not Logged In; Sign In
|
(s)Elections See other (s)Elections Articles Title: Obama calls for a cool-down Obama calls for a cool-down Rick Bowmer / Associated Press Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Chris Dodd appear at a press conference where Dodd announced his support for Obama. As tensions between his campaign and Clinton's continue to mount, the Illinois senator strikes a conciliatory note: 'We're on the same team.' Meanwhile, he gets an endorsement by Sen. Dodd. By Johanna Neuman and Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers 9:21 AM PST, February 26, 2008 Democrat Barack Obama, preparing for tonight's last debate with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton before the crucial March 4 primaries in Ohio and Texas, sought today to turn down the heat in their increasingly bitter contest. "It is important for me as well as Sen. Clinton to communicate to our staffs as well that . . . we're both trying out for quarterback, but we're on the same team," he said in a press conference, where he picked up the endorsement of Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.). With tensions rising between the two remaining Democratic candidates, Obama was asked about Clinton's mocking comment that he was selling a vision of "celestial choirs" in attempting to persuade voters he could solve problems. "I think things have gotten a little hotter over the last couple of days, but these things have gone, sort of, in ebbs and flows," Obama said. One day after allegations that the Clinton campaign had circulated a photo showing Obama in Somali native dress, a reminder to voters of his African ancestry, Obama attempted to move on from the controversy. "At this stage of the campaign, there are going to be dust-ups, particularly at the staff level," Obama said. "Certainly I don't think that photograph was circulated to enhance my candidacy. I think that's fair to say. Do I think it's reflective of Sen. Clinton's approach to campaigning? Probably not. And so at this point, my interest is just moving forward and talking about the issues that are going to be helpful to the people of Ohio. Dodd, who dropped out of the presidential race last month after his poor showing in the Iowa caucuses, embraced Obama as the candidate who can make a difference in world politics. "He's ready to be president and I am ready to support him in this campaign," Dodd said in Cleveland, where the biggest storm of the winter is forecast to dump 8 inches of snow on the city. "I believe Barack Obama has the experience, the ability, the vision to lead this country and to make a difference for us both at home and abroad. A significant difference." Rebutting claims by rival Clinton that Obama is untested, Dodd said the Illinois senator has been "poked and prodded, analyzed and criticized, called too green, too trusting and for all of that has already won" a majority of states and votes. Obama smiled when Dodd quipped that he himself had campaigned on his years of experience, to poor results. "It isn't just experience here, it's maturity, it's judgment, it's balance, it's the ability to speak in a way that touches people, that I think people are looking for in the national leadership this time around," Dodd said. He added that he feared that if the campaign grew uglier, it could undermine Democratic hopes in the fall. "It's now the hour to come together," he said, "... to get behind this campaign." But Dodd explicitly stated that he was not calling for Clinton to get out of the race. "No, I'm not suggesting that at all," he said. Clinton's hopes to use Ohio as a firewall in her falling campaign suffered another blow today when former Cleveland Mayor Michael R. White, who had earlier backed Clinton, also endorsed Obama. "As an African American, I am proud to see Barack Obama make such an extraordinary effort to become the president of the United States," he wrote in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "But being black is not enough for me to vote against my friend. I am voting for Barack because he has rekindled my hope again through his experience, vision and leadership for change in a political system that has gone so awry." Meanwhile, Clinton plans a noon town hall meeting in Texas before flying to Cleveland for tonight's debate, the 20th among Democrats since the campaign began. "I'm sure we're going to have a vigorous debate," Obama said. "I would expect her to argue vigorously her case for why she should be president and I'm sure she'll point out the differences she has with me. I will do the same, but I'm sure it will be conducted in a civil fashion." Referring to Dodd's call for unity, Obama agreed, saying: "I think we're getting to the point now where, hopefully, a lot of differences have been picked over and it's a good time to remind ourselves, as Chris just did, how much we have in common."
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#0)
Alternatively: "That bitch should shut up."
They are very of afraid of Ron Paul. Good.
|
||
|
[Home]
[Headlines]
[Latest Articles]
[Latest Comments]
[Post]
[Sign-in]
[Mail]
[Setup]
[Help]
|
||