Clinton and Obama woo labor vote

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-14-2008 09:14

Over in the U.S. presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has criticized Democratic Party campaign rival Barack Obama.

Hillary Clinton, U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful. (CCTV.com)

She's suggesting his campaign has injected racial tension into the presidential contest. But she's also insisting she will be ready to take on the job of US president -- from DAY ONE -- if elected in November.

The tight race between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama has opened surprisingly deep and bitter divisions in the ranks of organized labor.

In a spirited appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press", Clinton said Obama's camp "distorted" comments she made about the Reverend Martin Luther King's role in the civil rights movement.

Hillary Clinton, U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful, said, "We are running as individuals, we are making our cases to the American people and it's imperative that we get the record and the facts straight because people are entitled to have that information. But I have no intention of either, you know, doing something that would move this race in a wrong way or, frankly, sit standing by when I think tactics are being employed that are not in the best interests of our country."

If successful in the democratic primaries, Obama would become the first African American presidential nominee from a major party. Likewise, Clinton would become the first woman to hold such a position.

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) thanks supporters of his campaign after  delivering coffee and doughnuts to them at the Jewett  Street School polling place in Manchester, New Hampshire,  Jan. 8, 2008, on the day of the New Hampshire Primary.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

But despite the historic circumstances of this US presidential contest, Clinton insists the campaign should NOT be about gender or race. Instead, she says, it should be about "experience".

Many labor leaders say this year's competition is healthy, a sign of how badly Democrats want to retake the White House. And they predict the unions' support for the Democratic nominee will be strong in November.

Meanwhile, the hostility of the Democrats toward the Bush administration is a powerful force for unity. But, traditionally -- when political party campaigns wind down -- pre-nomination splits have not always mended so easily.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei