Clinton wants Obama to pull N.H. TV ad

Escalating the fight between Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, the Clinton campaign yesterday asked Obama's staff to remove a television ad from New Hampshire's airwaves, saying that it is inaccurate.

"I am writing concerning a false advertisement you are currently airing, in which Sen. Obama claims that his health care plan would 'cover everyone,' " Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle wrote to her counterpart for Obama, David Plouffe. "Your advertisement not only contradicts the judgment of health care experts, but public statements by your campaign and your candidate. Senator Obama has pledged to put 'honesty first' in this campaign. In that spirit I respectfully request that you stop running this ad which is misleading voters in New Hampshire."

In the ad, Obama says, "I've got a plan to cut costs and cover everyone."

The two campaigns have been sparring for days over the issue. Obama's healthcare plan does not mandate that every American obtain insurance, because he says it must be made affordable first. But he also says his plan will put affordable coverage within reach. Clinton's plan would mandate that everyone buy insurance.

Obama's campaign unveiled the ad weeks ago, and a spokesman said yesterday that "the Clinton campaign didn't say a word when this ad was released a month ago, and the only thing that's changed since then is the poll numbers."

A Clinton spokesman said the ad probably hit the airwaves Thursday.

MARCELLA BOMBARDIERI

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Republican Mitt Romney, his once-strong lead evaporated in Iowa and fragile in New Hampshire, faces a dual threat as the first voting nears - Mike Huckabee on the right in Iowa and Rudy Giuliani on the left in the Northeast.

The former Massachusetts governor is responding by fiercely assailing Huckabee's record on immigration and taxes while equating Giuliani with Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Romney said yesterday that Huckabee was guilty of "raising taxes time and again. He raised sales taxes, gasoline taxes, grocery taxes, even taxes on nursing home beds." Romney also noted that the former governor of Arkansas supported giving in-state tuition breaks to illegal immigrants.

Turning to Giuliani, the former New York mayor, Romney said, "It would be very difficult for our party to win the White House if our nominee was so similar to Hillary Clinton on abortion, on same-sex civil unions, on guns, on sanctuary cities, and on a record of ethical lapses - and I'm referring to the Bernie Kerik matter."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Once scheduled to go at it again on Tuesday, the Republican presidential contenders will have to wait another two weeks before debating again.

The Iowa Republican Party and Fox News Channel had scheduled a debate Tuesday in Des Moines. It would have been the first GOP face-off in Iowa, where the Jan. 3 caucuses are the first contest of the nomination calendar.

But it was canceled last month after Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney said they would not participate because of scheduling conflicts, a party spokesman said yesterday.

Giuliani and Romney slapped each other around during Wednesday night's CNN/YouTube debate in St. Petersburg, Fla. There were also heated tiffs between Romney and Mike Huckabee on tuition breaks for children of illegal immigrants, between Romney and John McCain on interrogation and torture, and between McCain and Ron Paul on the war in Iraq.

Voters will now have to wait until Dec. 12, when the Des Moines Register, Iowa's major newspaper, hosts a Republican debate.

On the Democratic side, the wait between debates will be even longer.

The Democratic candidates, who last debated Nov. 15 in Las Vegas, were supposed to gather in Los Angeles on Dec. 10, but that debate was canceled after candidates said they would not participate because of the writers' strike. They are now scheduled to debate on Dec. 13, also hosted by the Des Moines Register.

FOON RHEE

NEW YORK - Mayor Michael Bloomberg has promised not to play favorites in the presidential race, but he can't seem to stay away from it - he and Democratic candidate Barack Obama had a breakfast date yesterday in Manhattan.

The billionaire mayor and the Illinois senator chatted over eggs and potatoes at a New York luncheonette, in what could be the first of several sit-down meetings Bloomberg might have with the declared candidates.

The mayor allows his aides to openly promote speculation that he will run for president, but continues to deny any interest in doing so.

He has said that he intends to inject himself into the national dialogue to try to influence the debate.

Obama picked up the check for the $17.34 meal with Bloomberg and left a $10 tip, according to their waitress, Judith Perez.

ASSOCIATED PRESS