Hillary Clinton is ready to meet Barack Obama in the nearest alley

Barack Obama's lack of prowess at bowling (to put it mildly) quickly has become part of the '08 presidential campaign's lore. And Hillary Clinton, ever quick to pounce, is not about to let voters forget.

Campaigning today in Philadelphia, Clinton challenged Obama to a "bowl-off'' (and displayed a preference for punning).

"I have a proposal," Clinton deadpanned. "Today, I am challenging Sen. Obama to a bowl-off, a bowling night, right here in Pennsylvania. Winner take all."

She continued, amid guffaws from her listeners: "I'll even spot him two frames. It's time for his campaign to get out of the gutter ... and allow all of the pins to be counted.

"And I am prepared to play this game all the way to the 10th frame. And when this game is over, the American people will know, when that phone rings at 3 a.m., they'll have a president who's ready to bowl on Day One.

"So let's strike a deal and go bowling for delegates," she said. "We don't have a moment to spare."

She added: "Happy April Fool's Day, everybody."

-- Mark Silva

Mark Silva of the Chicago Tribune's Washington bureau writes for the Swamp blog.

Comments

[Tannim]

So if Obama and Hilalry bowl, does Hillary get the gutter bumpers?

And if I join them, will I beat both of them by at least 40 pins?

Does Hillary bowl Brooklyn?

Do they both throw left hooks?

Who will keep accurate score, or will certain frames not count because they went too early?

I could go on, but you get the picture. The jokes are about the biggest joke of all, the Democratic Presidential race.

[Harry Grace]

Hillary hasn't done a whole lot right in the past few months,as far as I'm concerned, but I thought this was pretty funny.

[Gorefan]

Clinton should fire her joke writer. Maybe she could hire Sinbad?

[Jesse Kally-Williams]

I think Hilary is probably obsessed with Obama. She has never met any guy so cool and descent like him. When you fight against something or somebody so passionately, good psychologists tell us, it is quite possible that there is something that has attracted you to that somebody and something.

[We take no prisoners and eat the wounded !]

It's about time Hillary threw a gauntlet At this wishy washy
guy who votes Absent 95 % of the time and failed to hold
a single meeting of the senate commitee he presides on
Afghanistan...can anyone see him as commander in chief?
37 % in Pensylvania is all he should get dispite his orgy
of spending and moove on org's histerical clamour.

[julius silva]

Two questions for Obama

1) Your father was from Kenya, but the only father figure in your life until your teenage years was your stepfather, who was your stepfather?

2) You have stated that Pastor Wright converted you to christianity some twenty years ago, what was your religion if any prior to being converted?

[Amy Hass]

Sen. Clinton is so funny! Good for her!

[San Ying]

Vote for a president who is many times a proven liar. Vote for Hillary Clinton!

[mike200]

For the CLOWN that said Obama didn't do anything in congress. I PITY the uneducated.

Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress.

Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005.

Senator Obama has also introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted by the Senate.

Not bad for a junior senator.

The ones he was NOT present at ,were Bills he was strongly against, and protest by walking out . I kind of like that.

[Mark]

It's a good joke. A bit labored, but still, not bad. April Fool's is a nice touch.

[Berth]

Obama born as liar his religious wasn't cristian at all.
African American aren't good leaders, look Kenya, is a country in a completed chaos and all african countries are in an economic chaos and inhuman positions

[Denise Larson]

Hillary, You couldn't manage your campaign from day one. Please stop with the snake oil.

[Bowler-in-Chief]

It would be an unfair contest as she had bowling lanes in the White House and I wouldn't doubt she could bowl a perfect game if the election were on the line. She's a competitor!

Whether we are talking about bowling or running the country, her experiences in the White House prepared her to be bowler-in-chief and president. Wish I could vote 300 times for her.

[Randy]

You know, I'm not sure if I want to elect a President that can only score a "37.

I mean, if he knew that he would stink up the bowling alley why risk looking like a rookie that continually lands in the gutter.

It's almost Un-American to bowl a 37 and be running for President of the United States of America.

I think Hillary could beat him if she gave him three frames.

I wonder if his Economic Plan closely resembles his bowling expertise... Oh Please God!