Clinton at OSU: "The people of Ohio get me."

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By Joe Hallet

The Columbus Dispatch

Sen. Hillary Clinton last night said she does not view Ohio as a must-win firewall to keep Sen. Barack Obama from winning the Democratic presidential nomination.

“I really don’t think about it like that,” Clinton told The Dispatch following a 35-minute speech to 2,600 in Ohio State University’s French Field House.

“I think about doing the very best I can. I’ve got a good campaign here. I’ve got wonderful, broad support across the state and we’re just going to work like crazy to get as many votes as we possibly can and hopefully we’ll do well.”

Sharpening her contrasts with Obama, Clinton accused him of misleading Ohio Democrats with a direct-mail piece that misrepresented her position on the North American Free Trade Agreement, signed into law by her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

“He’s running a campaign where he is obviously taking shots at me,” Clinton said. “He’s got some mailer I’ve heard about here in Ohio, going after me on NAFTA. I wasn’t in the Senate, I didn’t vote on NAFTA. I’ve obviously got a record where I’ve taken on the trade issues time and time again. So we’re going to be drawing comparisons and contrasts.”

Ben LaBolt, a spokesman for the Obama campaign, acknowledged that the campaign mailed the piece and said it correctly portrays Clinton’s past statements in support of NAFTA. It also notes that Obama “has been a consistent opponent of NAFTA and other trade deals.”

Trade is a prickly issue for many in Ohio who have seen factories close and move overseas. In her OSU speech, Clinton said would not support any trade deals that give foreign countries an unfair advantage.

Looking for wins in Ohio and Texas on March 4 to regain momentum after eight consecutive primary and caucus losses to Obama, Clinton’s contention that Ohio is not a do-or-die state for her campaign seemed to counter an observation made earlier this week by her chief Ohio supporter, Gov. Ted Strickland. He said that it “would be very difficult for her to proceed to eventual victory without winning Ohio.”

Although a Quinnipiac University poll yesterday showed Clinton with a 21-point lead over Obama in Ohio, the New York senator who was raised in the Chicago area said the race “will tighten,” but she will win.

“I really think the people of Ohio get me and get what I’m about,” Clinton said. “We’re practical people. I’m from the Midwest. It’s kind of like, ‘Show me what you’re going to do.’ The best way to tell what somebody will do is to find out what they have done. There is a big difference between speeches and solutions and talk and action.”

Increasingly, Clinton has drawn contrasts between her accomplishments and experience with Obama’s , hoping to diminish his soaring rhetorical flair that has inspired many voters, especially young ones.

During a visit yesterday morning to the General Motors’ auto assembly plant in Lordstown, Clinton complimented Obama for his oratorical skill.

“But speeches,” she said, “don’t put food on the table. Speeches don’t fill up your tank. Speeches don’t fill your prescriptions. My opponent makes speeches. I offer solutions. It’s one thing to get people excited. I want to empower you.”

In the interview, Clinton refuted notions that a segment of the population has a deep dislike for her and her husband and, as a result, Obama would be a better general election candidate against Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

“I don’t believe that,” Clinton said. “I think anyone who gets the Democratic nomination will be tested. He’s never had a negative ad run against him in all of his political activities. I’m pretty much a known commodity and I think that once the Republicans get to working on either one of us, I’l l be able to withstand that and be much stronger going into the general election.”

During a two-day swing through Ohio, Clinton told the boisterous OSU audience that she would take on the special interests, especially the oil companies, which she said have driven Bush administration policies.

"I have not just talked the talk, I have walked the walk and been against the special interests," she said.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local...llaryvisit.html

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Hillary,

Almost everyone 'gets' you. Some want you, most don't. GTFO.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Hillary,

Almost everyone 'gets' you. Some want you, most don't. GTFO.

LOL

[no name 1]

I am watching Ohio carefully. It's been *very* close the last few elections, not to mention my home state.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If OH likes her so much, maybe she should run for governor there and leave the rest of the nation alone.

[Ban Hammer 13,678]

If OH likes her so much, maybe she should run for governor there and leave the rest of the nation alone.

how much we gotta pay ohio?