With reports from AP, AFP, Reuters, Guardian
January 25, 2008
Hillary Clinton roared back into the race for the White House yesterday with a broadside against U.S. President George Bush over his "bankrupt" handling of the economy.
Two days before the South Carolina Democratic primary, the New York senator accused Mr. Bush, who introduced a $150-billion (U.S.) economic stimulus package yesterday, of failing to throw himself into the hard work of managing the economy. She argued that his decision to stay at a "comfortable cruising altitude" has allowed U.S. finances to go off the rails.
"Our economic problems are complex, but there is one thing we know for sure - the problem with our economy is not the American people; instead, the problem is, in part, the bankrupt ideas of President George W. Bush," said Ms. Clinton, who had spent the previous two days campaigning outside South Carolina. "The American people don't hire a president to talk about our problems, but to solve them."
Her main rival, Barack Obama, said he welcomed the stimulus package, which was supported by Democratic congressional leaders. "As I've travelled around South Carolina, people have expressed great concern about their jobs, their homes, the prospects of a worsening economy threatening their retirement," he said.
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A new poll yesterday showed that Mr. Obama's lead had slipped, but that he still enjoyed a sizable advantage. The Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby survey showed the Illinois senator's lead declined by three points overnight to give him the support of 39 per cent of Democratic supporters, compared with 24 per cent for Ms. Clinton. John Edwards, a former senator from neighbouring North Carolina, climbed four points to reach 19 per cent - within striking distance of Ms. Clinton.
The shifts have occurred since Monday night's angry debate in South Carolina where Mr. Obama and Ms. Clinton traded accusations about their political records and Mr. Edwards chastised them for squabbling.
The tenor of the electioneering was milder yesterday as the Clinton campaign withdrew a controversial radio advertisement that tried to link Mr. Obama with Republican policies. The Obama campaign had responded with radio ads that said Ms. Clinton would "say anything and change nothing."
Mr. Obama tried to tone things down a bit, saying that he didn't mind the forceful campaigning of former president Bill Clinton on behalf of his wife and that the tough competition is preparing him for the general election in November. Mr. Clinton also seemed to accept that it was time to end the food fight. At a campaign stop yesterday a woman urged him to "stop taking the bait from Obama" and stick to the issues, and he said it was "pretty good advice."
"When I was running, I didn't give a rip what anybody said about me," Mr. Clinton said. "It's weird, you know, but if you love somebody and you think that they'd be good, it's harder."
The Democratic field narrowed yesterday with news that Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich will withdraw today after failing to capture more than low single-digit support throughout the campaign.
As Republican contenders in Tuesday's Florida primary prepared for a televised debate last night, a new poll showed that support for Rudy Giuliani is in freefall. The Miami Herald survey found that the former New York mayor, who was once the favourite to secure the Republican presidential nomination, was tied for third place with Mike Huckabee.
The results, which showed John McCain and Mitt Romney virtually tied for first, cast doubt on Mr. Giuliani's strategy of ignoring earlier caucus and primary votes and staking everything on Florida.
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