Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008

At Lizard's Thicket, Bill Clinton turns up heat on Obama

Former President Bill Clinton — standing in for his wife who has left South Carolina to campaign in other early primary states — greeted diners at a Lizard’s Thicket in downtown Columbia this morning, relishing his role as chief surrogate for Hillary Clinton.

Bill Clinton shook hands with well wishers and was greeted by a media throng that made movement in the Elmwood Drive restaurant difficult.

Clinton addressed the contentious debate Monday night between Hillary Clinton and Illinois U.S. Sen. Barack Obama that featured heated exchanges between the Democratic rivals. Obama, during an interview with State newspaper editors Monday, said Bill Clinton’s attacks on his record were not based on fact.

“There was nothing specific I said that was said to be inaccurate,” Bill Clinton said, referring to the Monday night debate and Obama’s charge that Bill Clinton had become the campaign’s attack dog. Bill Clinton went out of his way Monday to talk about the historic nature of the Democratic race with a woman and African American leading the pack.

That’s why U.S. House Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina had asked the campaigns to cool the rhetoric.

“Sometimes it’s harder when you have a family feud,” Clinton said.

Hillary Clinton picked up where she left off Monday night, calling Obama “frustrated” at a morning news conference in Washington, according to The Associated Press.

Hillary Clinton said it was obvious Obama’s answers in the debate were rehearsed. “He clearly came last night looking for a fight. He was determined and launched right in," Clinton said. Later Tuesday morning Obama’s campaign, expecting more attacks in South Carolina from Clinton surrogates, announced Tuesday the formation of a S.C. Truth Squad to respond to accusations. "Our hope is we can raise the level of debate," said U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle, who is campaigning for Obama in South Carolina today. "We need to get back on the issues .æ.æ. (Attacks are) really what the American people have said they're tired of."

The campaign is asking South Carolinians to call (877) 622-6228 to report mailers or phone calls that distort Obama's platform. Obama campaigners said one call that has been reported to them falsely asserts that Obama wants to dismantle minimum wage.

Truth squad members include former S.C. Gov. Jim Hodges, former state Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum and S.C. Rep. Bakari Sellers.

Meanwhile, Obama is traveling the state today, including a stop this evening at South Carolina State University. He is expected to focus on the economy.

Daschle did not directly answer a reporter's question Tuesday of whether Obama was also attacking Clinton in Monday's debate.

Bill Clinton made clear Monday he intended to talk about the opponents in the race for president, calling politics a “contact sport.”

“I think it’s the right thing to do to address the false and persistent criticism of Hillary,” Clinton said.

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