Obama Goes On The Offensive

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

CHICAGO -- Barack Obama raised questions about Hillary Clinton's candidacy today, arguing that it is time to look at her assertions on experience. "I have not seen any evidence that she is better equipped to handle a crisis," he said. "If the only criteria is longevity in Washington, then she's certainly not going to beat John McCain on that."

Obama said he is ready to challenge her argument that she has been vetted and tested, hoping to dispel questions about his own experience.

"One of the things that I hope people start asking is what exactly is this foreign experience that she's claiming? I know she talks about visiting 80 countries," Obama said. "It's not clear, was she negotiating treaties or agreements or was she handling crises during this period of time? My sense is the answer is no."

When asked if the negative ads in Texas had an impact on Tuesday's outcome, Obama said he believes some undecided voters may have been influenced by them. "There's no doubt that Senator Clinton went very negative over the last week, the kitchen sink strategy I'm sure had some impact," he said. "Particularly when many of you in the press corps felt that you had been too hard on her and too soft on me."

Going forward, Obama said he will continue to campaign in every state and will not cherry-pick contests. He dismissed the Clinton argument that she is winning states that are significant in a general election, while his wins are paltry. "This notion that somehow all the states I win are not bellwether states but the states that Senator Clinton wins those are the critical ones is a strange way of keeping score," he said, adding that if he wins in Wyoming and Mississippi, he will more than make up for any delegates he lost last night.

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by winchesterla March 6, 2008 11:23 AM EST: maryclaire4:Stop and think about how secure we were under Bill Clinton...the World Trade Center - My answer to that is that the world changes. Having said that Bill Clinton claimed he had the chance to kill Osama but did not - waht a judgement. Hillary will tell you she was napping at that moment.; Reply to this comment


by Jerrycnet March 6, 2008 6:08 AM EST: I am sad to see many lost sight of what''s really at stakes: this country is in trouble, trillions of debt, growing deficit, mortgage trouble, inflation. Who''s best hand in this situation? Hillary. Obama''s is a gamble that this country cannot afford to risk. Some buy into Obama''s poll result of independents support. Poll can be wrong and change with time. I am independent who rather vote for McCain than Obama. His hope pitch rings empty like a salesman. He shrewdly used that and the black votes to win small caucuses early on to built up momentum and use the momentum to project air of inevitability. Caucuses tactics won''t work in general election, and many of his won states are traditional GOP states where he stand no chance against McCain. So he''s far from tested and invincible in general election. His image unfit as leader of the free world by kowtowing to rogue nation like Iran. Hillary had experience with Bill to turn the country around before, it''s not luck as attackers'' belittlement likes you to believe.; Reply to this comment


by greenfun March 6, 2008 2:59 AM EST: I wonder if her role as a Senator of New York during 9/11 counts towards experience? Shouldn''t 35 years of working and negotiating for different causes help a person when it comes time to negotiate with a foreign country?; Reply to this comment


by maryclaire4 March 5, 2008 5:21 PM EST: pywakitt -- how sad that he''s too squeaky clean for you. You are obviously jaded. You need to be Obama-ized. It feels so good. Take some time and look into some of the scary, under-handed and downright frightening things Hillary has been associated with -- you might change your mind about wanting her to protect you!; Reply to this comment


by maryclaire4 March 5, 2008 5:17 PM EST: Stop and think about how secure we were under Bill Clinton...the World Trade Center was bombed twice on his watch, and the plans for 911 were taking place right under his lying, cheating nose. I guess he had better things to do in the Oval Office! Can anyone tell me why we would want either of them in the White House? HE was impeached for God''s sake. They are both liars who will stop at nothing to achieve their own personal objectives. I can''t believe people can forget so easily what kind of people they both are. Feel safe under Hillary Clinton? No way. And yes, I think Obama needs to get into it...fight back...and remind the American people who they are dealing with. Slime.; Reply to this comment


by elsylee28 March 5, 2008 4:33 PM EST: it is ALL about electability now.

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Check their %u201CPolitical Analysis%u201D and %u201CHumor%u201D sections for other striking perspectives and comedic analysis on both parties.; Reply to this comment


by forthepeopl1 March 5, 2008 4:24 PM EST: IF OBAMA HAS ANY BALLS HE WOULD COME OUT AGAINST THIS IN A BIG WAY..
HE SHOULD COME OUT AND SAY SHE IS IN OZ IF SHE THINK I WOULD CHOSE HER.
HE NEEDS TO COME OUT AND SAY TO AMERICA IF YOU WANT BUSH 2 (MCCAIN) IN OFFICE THEN HAVEING CLINTON ON ANY TICKET WOULD DO THAT.
THATS WHY I CHOSE JOHN EDWARDS AS MY V.P.

THEN SHE WOULD LOSE ALL THE REMAINING STATES BY TRIPPLE DIGGET...
REMEMBER THE REPS WANT CLINTON BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY WILL BEAT HER IN A NATIONAL VOTE. I WOULD AND MANY OTHER IND/DEMS WOULD VOTE MCAIN INSTEAD OF HAVEING HER IN ANY PART OF THE WHITEHOUSE.; Reply to this comment


by pywakitt-2009 March 5, 2008 3:56 PM EST: Obama is less prepared than any candidate today or in the past running for president. Who is this man? He is just to squeaky for my taste. Why has he not done the job in which he was entrusted. This is the man that is to keep us secure yet he has put this on hold so that he can campaign. I want a president that will put the people first not his, mult-tasking is a nessesity in the job for Presidency. Hillary has showed herself time and time again! She is an individual and not joined at the hip with no one!; Reply to this comment