Obama's camp debates Clinton over "hope"

Manchester, N.H. -- As Barack Obama began his Sunday campaigning at a packed rally inside the Palace Theater here, he made only a glancing mention of Saturday's night candidate debate -- but it was obvious who he had in mind.

"For many months I've been teased, almost derided, for talking about hope," he told his crowd of about 1,000. "We saw it in the debate last night. One of my opponents said, 'We can't just offer the American people false hopes of what we can get done.' "

Obama added, for emphasis: "False hopes!"

The opponent he referred to, of course, was Hillary Clinton, who at various points during the debate aggressively asserted that talking about change and making change are two very different things. In the debate -- and in her campaigning in New Hampshire -- she is seeking to persuade voters that she has a record of making a difference while Obama is about making pretty speeches.

Obama may have contented himself with veiled scoffing at Clinton this morning, but The Times' Maria La Ganga reports that his campaign aides were more direct. After the Manchester rally, communications director Robert Gibbs called Clinton's debate remarks "a bit breaktaking."

"It's a surprising comment from someone who wants to lead and inspire the country," he said. "If that's the counter to a hopeful, optimistic message, I wish them luck."

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Joyce]

Doesn't Hillary remember the "false hopes" offered by Civil Rights workers to those who lived in the South during Ms. Clinton's youth?

[jule]

Yeah, when i heard Clinton say that stuff, i was just thought, "Uh....so....I'm supposed to want to vote for some pessimist, who says there's no hope, and who thinks anyone who dares to change the status quo needs a "reality check"?" I don't think so.

The most important changes in America's history; women being able to vote, civil rights, etc, all started from the grassroots. From one or two people believing that the world could change, and that if everyone stood together, things could be different.

Don't tell me what can't be done. Tell me what CAN be done.

[dada]

The "false hope" comment by Hilary Clinton was just shameful. It is almost depressing to think that someone running for president can be so pessismistic. Well Ms Clinton, I believe in change.

Hilary is a flip-floper, she is fake and insincere. Many people will very NEVER vote for Hilary bcos we can all see thru her.

GO OBAMA.

[PulSamsara]

You would think the Clinton camp would have embraced Hope by now - Hope and Prayer.
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The new USA Today/Gallup poll has Obama up by 13 points, 41% to Hillary's 28%, with John Edwards at 19%.

The new CNN/WMUR poll has Obama up by 10 points, 39% to Hillary's 27%, with John Edwards at 16%.

The new Strategic Vision poll has Obama up by 9 points, 38% to Hillary's 29%, with John Edwards at 19%.

The new ARG poll has Obama up by 12 points, 38% to Hillary's 26%, with John Edwards at 20%.

The new Rasmussen poll has Obama up by 12 points, 39% to Hillary's 27%, with John Edwards at 18%.

[Otuyelu]

My hope is that at the end of this political quest to appoint the Executive Presiding officer over the affairs of the United States of America, America will have elected one, who will take the country to great height, not scare us back to the bunkers we have been scared into building under our homes over the past 7 years under the incumbent administration