Obama Defends Himself, Praises Clintons on Civil Rights
RENO, NEV. -- Barack Obama said today there's too much tit-for-tat in this campaign and that he wants to send a strong signal to supporters that he will focus his campaign on what needs to be done instead of attacking his opponents.
Obama pledged to speak up forcefully against any staffer or surrogate who says anything personal against his opponents. He also praised Bill and Hillary Clinton for "historically and consistently being on the right side of the civil rights issue."
As he has pledged in the past, he said that he will only speak up against his opponent if they have a policy difference. He vowed not to launch personal attacks. He also said that he believes he lost the New Hampshire primary because women sided with Clinton and more women voted than men.
Earlier today, Obama defended his position on the Iraq war, health care, and his message of hope (all criticized by the Clinton campaign in recent days). Obama said his opponents are more intent on explaining why he shouldn't be president than why they should.
"These days some of my opponents seem to be more intent on trying to explain why I shouldn't be president than why they should be president," he said at the Reno Events Center. "They don't seem to have anything positive to say
about their own record. All they're trying to do is run me down."