Clinton's no Annie Oakley, says Obama as she shoots down his attack on 'bitter' Americans
Last updated at 16:39pm on 14th April 2008



Barack Obama today compared Hillary Clinton to wild west sharpshooter Annie Oakley after she sparked a row over his remarks about "bitter" Americans.

The war of words erupted after Mr Obama said people in Pennsylvania were bitter and “cling to guns or religion” over their economic circumstances.

Mrs Clinton said the remarks were “demeaning” and showed that her rival for the Democratic presidential nomination was out of touch.



Row: Clinton has launched a series of attacks on her 'elitist and out of touch' opponent Obama

The political temperature is rising steadily before the next primary, in Pennsylvania on 22 April, where defeat for Mrs Clinton could spell the end of her campaign.

In Indiana, she told plant workers in Indianapolis that Mr Obama's comments were “elitist and out of touch”, and capitalised on his blunder to press home her credentials with the working class.

“The people of faith I know don't 'cling' to religion because they're bitter,” she said.

“People embrace faith not because they are materially poor, but because they are spiritually rich,” she said.

“I also disagree with Senator Obama's assertion that people in this country 'cling to guns' and have certain attitudes about immigration or trade simply out of frustration.

"People don't need a president who looks down on them. They need a president who stands up for them.”

After a weekend of criticism Mr Obama finally let rip at Mrs Clinton, saying: “Shame on her. Shame on her, she knows better.”

On Mrs Clinton's recent assertion that she was a hunter, he said: “She's running around talking about how this is an insult to sportsmen, how she values the Second Amendment, she's talking like she's Annie Oakley. That's some politics being played by Hillary Clinton.”

His comments came as the Democratic rivals took part in a live TV forum on faith staged by cable channel CNN in Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania.

Mr Obama said he regretted that his comments on “bitter” Americans had been misinterpreted. He made them privately at a fundraiser in San Francisco last week to explain his problems in winning over working class voters.

Nevertheless, Mrs Clinton aides felt Obama had given them a big opening, pulling the spotlight away from troublesome stories such as her tax returns and income, with her husband Bill, of more than £50 million.

At a campaign rally in Wilson, North Carolina, former state Democratic Party chairman and current Clinton adviser Tom Hendrickson said rural voters don't need “liberal elites” telling them what to believe.

Mr Clinton was the featured speaker of the rally but avoided commenting on Mr Obama's remarks. When asked about it afterward, he said simply: “I agree with what Hillary said.”

link

Obama seems to know something about damaged control.. He can always pull himself out of a jam..