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

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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.