Obama: Clinton attacks due to "shifts in political fortune"

[Colobo]

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says "it all starts in Iowa" and that's why rival Hillary Clinton has launched a series of attacks on him. "Folks from some of the other campaigns are reading the polls and starting to get stressed, issuing a whole range of outlandish accusations," Obama says.

A Des Moines Register Iowa Poll released this weekend shows Obama holding a lead over Clinton. Last week in Iowa, Clinton said Obama's health care reform proposal was flawed and on Sunday morning a Clinton aide called on Obama to shut down his "Hope Fund" -- a political action committee which Obama has used to make donations to candidates around the country. "Everything that we have done is in exact accordance with the law and unless they can show that it hasn't been, I'd suggested they focus on trying to get their supporters to Caucus in Iowa," Obama says.

The Clinton campaign charges Obama is using donations from his "Hope Fund" to get Iowa and New Hampshire politicians to back his candidacy. According to Obama, some of his donations have gone to Democratic candidates who are backing Clinton. "I think what people need to focus on is that all these accusations that are starting to come out seem to correspond to shifts in political fortune," Obama says.

Obama made his comments during a news conference in Des Moines on Sunday. Click on the audio link below to listen to the entire news conference.

The mayor of Des Moines endorsed Obama this weekend. Mayor Frank Cownie won reelection with about 80 percent of the votes cast in this year's Des Moines municipal election. Obama told reporters he had a "more modest target" for the 2008 Caucuses.

http://www.radioiowa.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=9C0E0D8B-F44D-3D5A-11D2FD6DF9540569

[maddiejoan]

1. In other words --

--He's being attacked because he's 'ahead'?

Okay. I can buy that. But when HRC says it --not true?

Boo Hoo --he's getting 'piled-on'

[hedgehog]

4. I think it's more like Senator Clinton is attacking because she's behind!

[ilovesunshine]

5. Worked well for Obama when he was behind...

I guess it's only going to get uglier on both ends in the upcoming weeks.

[cali]

2. That's the primary, folks. Ugly and phony as a three dollar bill n/t

[bunnies]

3. I think this is a really smart response.

If the Clinton camp is accusing him of something illegal, he's right to address it and ask them to back it up. I would expect the same from any of the candidates.

[maddiejoan]

6. Then he should just address the charge.

What he's doing is dismissing it's legitimacy by saying it's just 'sour grapes'.

[bunnies]

8. It seems to me that hes trying to offer a reason for the accusation.

And hasnt Clinton used a similar logic in responding to criticisms of her? I dont really see a problem with it. Especially since I think his leading in Iowa probably does have something to do with her stepped up attacks on him. If he was polling last, I doubt they'd even have bothered to bring it up.

[maddiejoan]

9. That was kinda my point.

When Hillary used this same justification for being attacked, she was cast as playing a victim card.

In truth, I think it's a reasonable response by Obama --and thought it was reasonable of Hillary.

[bunnies]

11. doh! Sorry if I misunderstood.

I think we're in agreement. I think *any* presidential candidate would love to have the opportunity to say "they're attacking me because Im in front". But I dont think it should be used as a convenient way to brush off criticisms (not that anyone has done that).

It'll be interesting to see how this whole thing plays out. Id like to hear more details from both sides.

[hedgehog]

10. He also went on to point out that he's following the law on this and has given

money to Clinton supporters.

[maddiejoan]

12. toot toot!

Get on the logic train and read my posts for what they are saying.

[Bitwit1234]

7. Geee I read this journal and the news and damn if I see ANY

ANY AT ALL ATTACKS by Hillary. I am so sick of them saying Hillary supporters are attacking Obama here. They have a guilty conscience because that's all they do they think every one else is like them. Obama is really being to loose it.