Bill attacks Barack
Thursday, 24 Jan 2008 10:04
Former American president Bill Clinton accuses Barack Obama of political "hit job".
Former US president Bill Clinton has accused Barack Obama, his wife's main rival for the Democratic White House nomination, of a political "hit job".
And as the Democratic race grows increasingly personal, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani has seen his hopes for the Republican nomination grow increasingly slim.
Mr Clinton made his comments while campaigning in South Carolina ahead of 'Super Tuesday' on February 5th, when voters in more than 20 states will choose their respective party candidates.
"I never heard a word of public complaint when Mr Obama said Hillary was not truthful, no character, was poll-driven," he told a CNN reporter.
"When he put out a hit job on me at the same time he called her the senator from Punjab, I never said a word," he continued, in reference to a campaign memo published by Mr Obama's team last year which criticised Mrs Clinton's links to the Indian-American community.
"Shame on you!" the former president added, attacking the reporter for focusing on perceived smears from Illinois senator Mr Obama rather than more important issues.
Meanwhile John Kerry, the defeated Democratic candidate in the 2004 presidential intervention has criticised Mr Obama's rival for "Swiftboating" - a reference to the allegations regarding Mr Kerry's service during the Vietnam war as a Swiftboat officer which derailed his campaign.
"The fight is just heating up. We won't let them steal this election with lies and distortions," he said.
"I support Barack Obama because he doesn't seek to perfect the politics of Swiftboating - he seeks to end it," he added. "This is personal for me, and for a whole lot of Americans who lived through the 2004 election."
In the Republican camp, the upcoming Florida primary has become crucial for former New York mayor Mr Giuliani.
Mr Giuliani neglected to campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire, opting to concentrate his efforts on Florida and the southern states, but a new survey has put his hopes for the party nomination in jeopardy.
A poll released by the St Petersburg Times put Mr Giuliani tied for third place with Mike Huckabee to win the state, both endorsed by 15 per cent of respondents.
Arizona senator John McCain was shown to be leading the race for the Sunshine State with 25 per cent, with former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney polling 23 per cent.
Mr Giuliani's ability to mount a serious challenge on Super Tuesday would be severely hampered by a third place finish in the Florida primary this coming Tuesday.