Dem: Clinton Vs. Obama Is A "Tea Party"

Political Players is a weekly conversation with the leaders, consultants, and activists who shape American politics. This week, as the two Democratic candidates prepare for next Tuesday's potentially decisive contest in Pennsylvania, CBS News' Brian Goldsmith talked with the state's Democratic chairman, T.J. Rooney, a supporter of Senator Clinton, about whether Senator Obama has been covered--and tested--in the same way as his candidate.

CBSNews.com: You're chairman of the state party--and you've endorsed Senator Clinton. Most of the state chairs, and the state parties, are neutral. Why is Pennsylvania different?

T. J. Rooney: Well, there's nothing in our rules or bylaws that precludes me from endorsing. As I've expressed my personal opinion, I've said that the party itself has been scrupulously neutral. But you know, at the end of the day, I don't think I should be held to any standard that's different than any other Pennsylvania Democrat.

I have a strong preference. I've seen fit to express it. And there's nothing that says I can't or shouldn't.

CBSNews.com: What are you doing on her behalf?

T. J. Rooney: Well, I've been traveling the state, primarily with President Clinton, to small towns throughout Pennsylvania. I'm doing a lot of things, like speaking to good folks like yourself.

CBSNews.com: Let's talk about some of what's made news recently. Obviously, there's the statement in San Francisco from Senator Obama. But does this really hurt him?

T. J. Rooney: Well, I think it's beginning to really manifest itself in terms of the damage that's been done. I'm sure Senator Obama had nothing but good intentions. But they were expressed really poorly and, most people would suggest, inappropriately.

You know, as I just mentioned, I've been traveling around the state with President Clinton. And we've heard about this in these small towns, and unsolicited. I mean, the president has not brought it up. I think one time he brought it up, a couple of days ago. But, unsolicited, people have come up, and they say, "Hey, listen. We want to make it clear. We are not a bitter people."

I mean, those folks who are deeply passionate about their religion, or deeply passionate about hunting and owning firearms, it's not out of some frustration. But rather, it's part of something in our culture. And it has been for generations.

So, while I know Senator Obama has a good heart, and probably didn't necessarily mean what he said, I think it just was kind of--for most Pennsylvanians that fit that description, that live in those small towns--I think it was kind of like a cold bucket of water being thrown on them. You know, many people were just taken aback.

And they're saying to themselves, you know, maybe what they're seeing along the campaign trail isn't what is real. And whether that's there or not, it's not for me to pass judgment. It's just an observation from traveling these last few weeks in these areas.

CBSNews.com: And what do you think the impact of the Reverend Wright scandal will be in Pennsylvania?

T. J. Rooney: Well, in the primary, it hasn't really been an issue. But I think where the Reverend Wright controversy could show up and do perhaps much more damage than has already been done would be in the fall election.

This Democratic race has been rather genteel. I mean, the criticism hasn't been nearly what it will be in the fall campaign. So, with respect to Reverend Wright, with respect to the comments that Senator Obama made in San Francisco about Pennsylvanians in small towns being bitter, I think the real damage from those remarks can really come in the fall.

CBSNews.com: Do you worry that these Democratic attacks on Senator Obama make the Republicans' job easier for them?

T. J. Rooney: With all due respect, the negative attacks really haven't been all that negative. And they really aren't attacks. There's been no mudslinging. I mean, this is a tea party compared to what the Republican attack machine is going to do to our nominee be it Senator Obama or Senator Clinton.

So pointing out facts like, Senator Obama's got an ad up in Pennsylvania with millions of dollars behind it, saying he doesn't take money from oil companies. Well, you can't. I mean, for a hundred years, you can't take money from oil companies.

So, I pointed that out, that it was misleading, and the Obama campaign was quick to criticize me for being negative. My word. I mean, if that is considered a negative attack, what is going to come in the fall may come as a great surprise to some of these folks. This has not been, by any standard, a nasty primary campaign in our state.

CBSNews.com: A lot of Clinton supporters are asking, "Why aren't we doing better? Why isn't our lead expanding, given the fact that Obama has had two very difficult controversies over the last couple of weeks, with Reverend Wright and his comments in San Francisco?"

T. J. Rooney: And I think there's a rather easy and logical explanation for that. Depending on the day, time, place, and medium, we are being outspent here anywhere from three to one, to five to one. I mean, the state is being inundated with Obama TV commercials and radio ads. I can't tell you how many pieces of direct mail I've received from the Obama campaign.

They are spending enormous sums of money. So, quite honestly, I would suggest to you that the fact that the fact that we still maintain a consistent lead, the fact that Senator Obama hasn't gotten over 41 percent in any of the public polls that we've seen--if anything, the question should be, why doesn't Obama have a commanding lead in the commonwealth?

We expect a victory in Pennsylvania for Senator Clinton. We're working hard to bring that about. In states like Pennsylvania, that are going to be critical to elect a Democratic president in November, Senator Clinton wins.

CBSNews.com: Why is Obama able to outspend you so dramatically? I mean, he has not out-raised you four or five to one?

T. J. Rooney: Well, the last couple of months, they have done a masterful job. You know, they're averaging, what, roughly $40 million a month. And the way the money is allocated--whether people max out in the primary, or in the general--there is a large sum of money that we, the campaign, can't spend, because it's post-primary money.

CBSNews.com: Has is been harder for the Clinton campaign to really go after Senator Obama on these weaknesses, because Senator Clinton is perceived as the more negative candidate?

T. J. Rooney: Absolutely. I've served in elected office for many years, and I've been around politics virtually all my life. And I'm not a screamer. But make no mistake about it. There is a difference in the way things are reported.

And I'm not casting aspersions. I'm not going to say anybody is good, bad, or indifferent. But there is a fundamental difference. By any objective standard, Senator Obama and Senator Clinton are covered differently.

I mean, I criticized him for putting millions of dollars behind an ad that says, "I didn't take money from oil companies," when the law says you can't.

And then he jumped all over me. And again, it was reported that way, you know? It's somewhat disconcerting, not being able to have a debate about our nominee, because again, compared to November, this has been a tea party. It's been like a cool night out in the Hamptons. This is not World War Three. But November will be.

We need to make sure that our nominee is well-tested, well-vetted, and has the experience to be elected and serve with distinction from day one. And those are some of the reasons why I came down on the side of Hillary Clinton.

CBSNews.com: You know, we've heard from some people inside her own campaign who say that if she wins Pennsylvania by only about one or two points, then they are going to argue that she needs to drop out of the race, that she needs a substantial victory in Pennsylvania to go forward. What's your view of that?

T. J. Rooney: I will let her campaign advisors continue to advise her as they see fit. I will just tell you that a one vote victory in Pennsylvania will be a significant achievement, considering how we've been outspent in this campaign.

CBSNews.com: What do you make of Congressman John Murtha's attack on Senator McCain, that he's too old to be president?

T. J. Rooney: I have not seen or heard directly Congressman Murtha's comments. And I'll just leave that for the good congressman to answer.

CBSNews.com: Do you think Senator McCain's age is off-limits in the campaign?

T. J. Rooney: Well, it's really up to the American people to decide. Senator McCain is a good man. He served his country both in the military and in the Congress with distinction. Whether his advanced age is going to be a relevant factor in determining whether or not he's qualified and fit to be president, the American people will decide, and as they should.

By Brian Goldsmith