(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-04-18 08:54

"We feel good about it, if Senator Obama is unable to win Pennsylvania, it will show once again he is having problems winning the big swing states," Clinton communications czar Howard Wolfson told MSNBC television.

Wolfson told reporters that Obama had a "very bad night" in the debate, and failed to adequately answer questions about his character that Republicans would use against him if he emerges as the Democratic nominee.

Polls show Clinton with around a six-point lead in Pennsylvania, short of the blowout she would need to seriously dent Obama's lead in elected delegates, going into the next two primaries in Indiana and North Carolina.

The former first lady used the debate to hammer Obama on his character and his feel for American values as she tried to ignite a comeback bid, rebuking her rival over his remark last week that blue-collar voters felt "bitter."

But she also plainly said Obama could beat McCain in November's general election, even as she argues to leading members of her party that choosing him would be to risk defeat.

Obama said he had "mangled" his words when arguing in San Francisco that working-class Americans cling to guns and religion out of anger at their economic plight. But he tried to navigate out of the drama.

"Yes, people are frustrated and angry about it, but what we're seeing in this election is the opportunity to break through that frustration," Obama said.

Both candidates said their rival could beat McCain in November.

Asked if Obama was electable, the former first lady said: "Yes, yes, yes."

Obama likewise said "absolutely" on the question of whether Clinton could beat McCain.

Clinton was also called to account for her exaggerated account of a trip to Bosnia, which she had claimed was threatened by sniper fire -- comments contradicted by recently aired video footage.

   1 2   

   1 2