Candidates take jabs as primary approaches

(MCT) BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Democratic presidential race in Pennsylvania intensified yesterday… (MCT) BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Democratic presidential race in Pennsylvania intensified yesterday as Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama traded jabs on the stump and over the broadcast airwaves.

Each campaign accused the other of distorting its candidate’s positions in new TV ads launched in advance of tomorrow’s Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary.

Clinton unleashed a 30-second commercial taking Obama to task for criticizing her health care plan.

The ramped-up back-and-forth comes as polls show Clinton holding a narrow lead in the Keystone State.

A McClatchy-MSNBC-Pittsburgh Post-Gazette poll released yesterday put Clinton ahead by 48-43 percent with 8 percent undecided.

“He couldn’t answer tough questions in the debate. So Barack Obama is making false charges against Hillary’s health care plan,” a voiceover says in the ad.

“There are more and more questions about Barack Obama. Instead of attacking, maybe he should answer them.”

Obama’s camp released a 30-second ad of its own, blasting Clinton’s claim that Obama is misleading voters when he says he doesn’t take campaign contributions from special interest groups.

“Eleventh hour smears, paid for by lobbyist money: Isn’t that exactly what we need to change?” the voiceover in Obama’s ad says.

Clinton, speaking to a large crowd inside a high school gym here, continued trying to cast doubt on Obama’s credentials and ability to lead the country while touting her readiness to be president.

“This week we had a debate and it showed you the choice you have,” she said. “And it’s no wonder that my opponent has been so negative these last few days of the campaign. I think you saw a big difference between us. It’s really a choice of leadership. I’m offering leadership you can count on.”

Clinton made stops in Bethlehem and Johnstown – blue-collar towns that have experienced economic hard times with the decline of the steel industry – as well as State College, home of Penn State University.

Bonna Burtt-Greenberg, 52, of Fogelsville, Pa., said that Obama’s remarks offended her to the point that she would weigh voting for Republican presidential nominee John McCain if Obama is the Democratic nominee.

“He hasn’t had enough time out there to know the populace outside of Chicago,” said Burtt-Greenberg, who says she was a former member of the National Organization for Women and the National Rifle Association. “I think there is a lack of seasoning.”

Obama’s travels through Pennsylvania took on a theme yesterday, as voters unsure of how liberal, patriotic or religious he is asked him to address rumors or answer more specifics.

After attending a morning church service in Lebanon, Pa., he stopped at a restaurant in Robesonia.

There, Margaret Miller, 66, asked him about an e-mail she’d seen that suggested he didn’t salute the flag at a political event in Iowa last year.

He said the accusation was unfair because he had to stand with his back to the flag for a moment in order to face the person who was singing the national anthem.

Miller said the explanation made sense: “If it’s true, I’m all right.” Even so, she said, “I won’t vote for a Democrat.”