Obama Reacts to Clinton Attacks
COLUMBUS, OHIO -- As Hillary Clinton unloaded on Barack Obama and his campaign for sending mailers criticizing her positions on NAFTA and health care, Obama responded by saying that the facts in those flyers are accurate.
"I am puzzled by the sudden change in tone unless these were just brought to her attention it makes me think that there's something tactical about her getting so exercised this morning," Obama said this afternoon. "And unlike some of the attacks that have been leveled about me that have been debunked by news organizations, these are accurate."
When asked if Clinton should drop out of the race due to his recent string of wins, he said, "Look, I'm the challenger, I'm the upstart. I'm the insurgent - she's, she's the champ. She's part of the Democratic network in Washington and you know if you're the titleholder then you don't lose it on points. You gotta be knocked out."
Earlier today, Obama slammed John McCain's health care plan and his position on lobbyists today at a roundtable meeting at the Ohio State University Medical Center.
"Both my plan and Senator Clinton's plan are far better than what's being offered by John McCain, which is essentially more of the same Bush health care policies that have not worked in the past and won't work today," Obama told the round table participants.
"It reflects the agenda of the drug and insurance lobbyists, who back his campaign and use money and influence to block real health care reform."
Obama briefly mentioned Clinton's plan at the top of his remarks, making a snarky remark regarding the number of debates in which the two candidates discussed the plans.
"As many of you have been watching the 19 debates that we've had so far can attest, both Senator Clinton and I have put forward health care plans and they're very similar," Obama said sarcastically.
Obama accused both Clinton and McCain of taking money from lobbyist, "this is standard operating procedure in Washington".
"On the issue of lobbyists, I have to say this is an area where I disagree with both Senator McCain and Senator Clinton. She's taken nearly a million dollars from lobbyists in this campaign and says they "represent real Americans." He takes their money and has put them in charge of his campaign."