Obama,Clinton trade shots

WASHINGTON – A row has erupted between two major contenders for the US Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 2008, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

It was sparked after Hollywood mogul David Geffen hosted a fundraiser for Clinton’s rival and called her overly ambitious in an interview. Geffen, who once backed Bill Clinton, also claimed the former first lady might be a “polarising” figure.However, Obama’s camp has refused calls to denounce the remarks.A spokesman for the Obama campaign noted that the former first couple did not complain when Geffen raised millions of dollars for Clinton’s presidential campaign and was entertained at the White House.Clinton’s camp have questioned Mr Obama’s vow to stay away from “slash and burn” politics as a result of this latest row.Asked about the row at a forum in the western state of Nevada, Clinton said: “I want to run a very positive campaign, I sure don’t want Democrats or supporters of Democrats to be engaging in the politics of personal destruction.”Obama’s spokesman, however, said that they did not wish to enter into a row between the Clintons and “someone who was once one of their biggest supporters”.Obama, questioned during a campaign trip to the key early voting midwestern state of Iowa, dismissed the Clinton camp’s demand for an apology.He said he “can’t be responsible for the statements of every individual,” according to a report on the Des Moines Register newspaper’s website.”My suspicion is that the voters of Iowa are more concerned about what both myself and Senator Clinton think about Iraq,” Obama said.The initial comments by Geffen were first reported in the New York Times.He said: “I don’t think that another incredibly polarising figure, no matter how smart she is, and no matter how ambitious she is – and God knows, is there anybody more ambitious than Hillary Clinton? – can bring the country together.”Nampa-AFP-BBCGeffen, who once backed Bill Clinton, also claimed the former first lady might be a “polarising” figure.However, Obama’s camp has refused calls to denounce the remarks.A spokesman for the Obama campaign noted that the former first couple did not complain when Geffen raised millions of dollars for Clinton’s presidential campaign and was entertained at the White House.Clinton’s camp have questioned Mr Obama’s vow to stay away from “slash and burn” politics as a result of this latest row.Asked about the row at a forum in the western state of Nevada, Clinton said: “I want to run a very positive campaign, I sure don’t want Democrats or supporters of Democrats to be engaging in the politics of personal destruction.”Obama’s spokesman, however, said that they did not wish to enter into a row between the Clintons and “someone who was once one of their biggest supporters”.Obama, questioned during a campaign trip to the key early voting midwestern state of Iowa, dismissed the Clinton camp’s demand for an apology.He said he “can’t be responsible for the statements of every individual,” according to a report on the Des Moines Register newspaper’s website.”My suspicion is that the voters of Iowa are more concerned about what both myself and Senator Clinton think about Iraq,” Obama said.The initial comments by Geffen were first reported in the New York Times.He said: “I don’t think that another incredibly polarising figure, no matter how smart she is, and no matter how ambitious she is – and God knows, is there anybody more ambitious than Hillary Clinton? – can bring the country together.”Nampa-AFP-BBC