Clinton Goes After Obama's Kindergarten Record

Just how desperate has Hillary Clinton become? Desperate enough to issue a press release referring to a paper Barack Obama wrote in kindergarten. This is from the official Clinton campaign release:

Clinton Release: "Sen. Obama Rewrites History, Claims He Hasn't Been Planning White House Run...Senator Obama's comment today is fundamentally at odds with what his teachers, family, classmates and staff have said about his plans to run for President," Clinton spokesperson Phil Singer said. 'Senator Obama's campaign rhetoric is getting in the way of his reality.'"...

"Iis Darmawan, 63, Obama's kindergarten teacher, remembers him as an exceptionally tall and curly haired child who quickly picked up the local language and had sharp math skills. He wrote an essay titled, 'I Want To Become President,' the teacher said." [AP, 1/25/07]

Attacking Obama on character issues is not a wise idea for a candidate who herself has character issues up the wazoo. And that's before you factor in her husband.

Robert Reich, the diminuitive former Labor Secretary, does not think Clinton's attacks are particulary smart:

I just don’t get it. If there’s anyone in the race whose history shows unique courage and character, it's Barack Obama. HRC’s campaign, by contrast, is singularly lacking in conviction about anything. Her pollster, Mark Penn, has advised her to take no bold positions and continuously seek the political center, which is exactly what she’s been doing.

All is fair in love, war, and politics. But this series of slurs doesn't serve HRC well. It will turn off voters in Iowa, as in the rest of the country. If she's worried her polls are dropping, this is not the way to build them back up.

The Clinton campaign is sinking in Iowa, and starting to have problems everywhere else. They are apparently planning nothing but character attacks on other Dems between now and the January 3rd Iowa caucus.

Merry Christmas, Democrats.