Clinton steps up rhetoric against Obama

She says she offers solutions, not talk

Senator Hillary Clinton held up a pair of boxing gloves autographed by Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik in Lordstown, Ohio. (Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press)

A day after Barack Obama delivered a detailed economic plan at a General Motors plant in Wisconsin, Hillary Clinton yesterday used the backdrop of a GM plant in Ohio to launch a populist-style attack against Obama, questioning whether his inspiring rhetoric can deliver real help to struggling Americans.

"Now, over the years, you've heard plenty of promises from plenty of people in plenty of speeches," Clinton told the auto workers. "And some of those speeches were probably pretty good. But speeches don't put food on the table. Speeches don't fill up your tank, speeches don't fill your prescription, or do anything about that stack of bills that keeps you up at night.

"That's the difference between me and my Democratic opponent," she said, using some of her strongest language yet against the Illinois senator, who has won eight straight primaries and caucuses. "My opponent makes speeches, I offer solutions. It's one thing to get people excited; I want to empower you."

Clinton, who needs to win the March 4 Democratic primary in Ohio, appealed directly to the blue-collar workers and middle-class families whose support she is relying on.

"Some days, it must feel like a perfect storm," she said, citing rising prices for gas, milk, and prescription drugs. She said hardworking families are like "a human ATM," but all the money is going out.

Clinton also excoriated the Bush administration's economic policies as the country nears a recession, if it isn't already there.

"President Bush has signed a subprime mortgage on America's economy," she charged at the plant in Lordstown. Bush handed perks to special interests on a "silver platter," she added, "probably one made in China."

While China manipulates its currency and racks up huge trade surpluses, it sends tainted products to the United States, she said. "Our government doesn't do a thing to stop it," she said.

"For seven long years, we've had a government of, by, and for the special interests, and we've had enough," the New York senator continued, borrowing liberally from the themes of John Edwards, the former North Carolina senator who suspended his campaign last month and has yet to endorse Clinton or Obama. "It's time to level the playing field against the special interests and deliver 21st-century solutions to rebuild the middle class."

Clinton outlined a plan yesterday to rein in special interests, taking back at least $55 billion per year from drug companies, oil companies, and firms that ship jobs overseas, and investing the money to lower the cost of college, reduce healthcare costs, and create jobs.

Clinton also charged Obama with watering down a bill to please the nuclear industry and voting for an energy bill loaded with tax breaks for the oil industry. That prompted a heated response from the Obama campaign.

"Barack Obama doesn't need any lectures on special interests from the candidate who's taken more money from Washington lobbyists than any Republican running for president," spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement.

"Hillary Clinton should tell the people of Ohio the truth - she once bragged about helping to pass the nuclear bill she's now criticizing Obama for, she came out with her plan for green jobs one month after Obama did, and she's said she'd 'go after' people's wages if they couldn't afford health insurance under her plan."

New polls released yesterday showed that Clinton is leading in Ohio and in Pennsylvania, where the April 22 primary is also crucial to Clinton's bid.

In Ohio, Clinton leads Obama 55 percent to 34 percent, and in Pennsylvania she leads Obama 52 percent to 36 percent, according to the Quinnipiac University polls. The surveys were conducted Feb. 6-12 and have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

Many of the interviews for both polls were conducted before Obama's eight-contest winning streak that is giving him momentum and could move poll numbers in his direction. Polls suggest that Obama is favored in contests next week in Wisconsin and Hawaii that could extend his streak to 10 before the pivotal primaries in Ohio and Texas on March 4.

New Mexico officials yesterday announced the winner of the Super Tuesday caucuses there: Clinton beat Obama by a razor-thin margin, and claimed 14 delegates to his 12.

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