http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/01/obama_seeks_to_lower_temperatu.html
Obama seeks to lower temperature, Clinton follows
by John McCormick, updated
RENO, Nev. Seeking the high ground in a Democratic primary battle that turned especially nasty over the weekend, Sen. Barack Obama told reporters this afternoon that he wants to lower the temperature of the debate.
"I've been a little concerned about the tenor of the campaign," Obama said during a hastily called news conference. "I thought that it would be useful for me to just air this out a little bit."
Obama said he does not want the issues to be lost in a battle over personalities and statements about matters tangential to the race, a tone that Sen. Hillary Clinton quickly took as well in a statement issued by her campaign.
"We've got too much at stake at this time in our history to be engaging in this kind of silliness," Obama said. "I suspect that other candidates may feel the same way."
During the question-answer portion, Obama was asked whether Bill and Hillary Clinton have shown racial insensitivity in recent days.
"I don't want to rehash that," he said. "Here's what I can tell you: I think that Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton have historically and consistently been on the right side of civil rights issues. I think that they care about the African-American community and that they care about all Americans and that they want to see equal rights and equal justice in this country. That is something that I'm convinced of and I want to make sure that the American people understand that that's my assessment."
Earlier, Obama had said that he wanted to "stipulate to a couple things," including that his chief rivals are good people with solid civil rights records.
"Over the last couple of days, you have seen a tone on the Democratic side in the campaign that is unfortunate," he said. "I may disagree with Sen. Clinton or Sen. Edwards on how to get there, but we share the same goals. We're all Democrats. We all believe in civil rights. We all believe in equal rights. We all believe that regardless of race or gender that people should have equal opportunity. I think that they are good people, they are patriots and that they are running because they think they can lead this country to a better place. I don't want the campaign at this stage to degenerate into so much tit-for-tat, back-and-forth, that we lose sight of why all of us are doing this."
Shortly after Obama's press conference, Clinton's campaign issued the following statement:
Over this past week, there has been a lot of discussion and back and forth - much of which I know does not reflect what is in our hearts," she said in the statement. "And at this moment, I believe we must seek common ground. Our party and our nation is bigger than this. Our party has been on the front line of every civil rights movement, women's rights movement, workers' rights movement, and other movements for justice in America. We differ on a lot of things. And it is critical to have the right kind of discussion on where we stand. But when it comes to civil rights and our commitment to diversity, when it comes to our heroes - President John F. Kennedy and Dr. King Senator Obama and I are on the same side. And in that spirit, let's come together, because I want more than anything else to ensure that our family stays together on the front lines of the struggle to expand rights for all Americans.
Obama had said he is concerned that the needs of those who need help in the nation will be lost in the bickering.
"I'm worried that may get lost," he said. "So, I want to try to send a strong signal certainly to my own supporters, but I would also say to everybody who is involved in the campaign at this stage, let's try to focus on the work that needs to get done."
Still, Obama said he would respond if he feels he is unfairly attacked.
"If the facts as presented aren't accurate, I'm going to try to correct the record," he said. "But what I want to avoid doing is dividing the party or in some way impugn the motives of the other candidates."
Obama also said he feels he can do well among Nevada's large Hispanic population and those in other upcoming primary and caucus states -- even though there has often been political tension among blacks and Hispanics in politics.
"I think it is important for us to get my record known before the Latino community. My history is excellent with Latino support back in Illinois because they knew my record. They knew that I had fought for and stood comprehensive immigration reform I think nationally, people don't know my record quite as well, and so it is very important for me to communicate that, to advertise on Spanish-speaking television, to make clear my commitments. Over time, as people become aware of that track record, I think I will do very well."
He was also asked about a lawsuit that seeks to close caucus meeting sites in Las Vegas casinos and hotels that could help his chances in Saturday's Nevada caucuses.
"We believe we will do well here," he said. "We've got, I think, the best organization on the ground. That was before we were endorsed by the Culinary Workers Union. With their endorsement, I think that is a powerful boost. Obviously, the notion that some of the same people who helped to put together the caucus structure are now challenging it, in the wake of the Culinary Union endorsement, is a little troublesome. But we're confident that our people are going to show up and I think we will do very well."
Obama downplayed a poll out Monday that shows him with a slight lead in Nevada.
"There was a poll in New Hampshire that didn't quite work out the way everybody thought," he said. "If I ever put any stock in polls, that ended it."
Obama also offered his analysis on why he finished second in New Hampshire.
"Basically, there was a big shift in terms of undecideds going towards Sen. Clinton, particularly among women in the last minute," he said. "Keep in mind, there was a gender gap that cut both ways. I won among men, and she won among women.If it had been a racial issue, there's no reason why that would have been something that was just unique to women as opposed to men. So I don't think that is the case. You saw what happened in Iowa. I'm confident that the American people are just looking who can best deliver a message of change that will make their lives better. And if I do that, then I'll win. And if I don't, then I'll lose."
