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Rivals Go After Clinton Over Social Security and Donations
CONCORD, N.H., Oct. 29 — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton came under pointed attack Monday by her two main rivals for the Democratic nomination, who said she was not being direct on Social Security and also suggested she was too cozy with Washington lobbyists.
The rivals, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, in campaign appearances in Iowa and here, took on Mrs. Clinton by name, escalating their attacks on her a day before they were to share a stage at the Democratic debate in Philadelphia.
Mr. Obama, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, said Mrs. Clinton had evaded a direct answer on the politically delicate question of how to strengthen Social Security.
“You might remember this came up at the last presidential debate,” Mr. Obama said. “And when Senator Clinton was asked about it, she wouldn’t say what she thinks we should do. And the other day, here in Iowa, she skipped another chance to give a direct answer on this.”
Mr. Obama has said the issue of the long-term solvency of Social Security needs to be addressed, and he has proposed having high-income earners pay more in taxes to the program.
“She’s not alone in ducking the issue, of course,” Mr. Obama said, according to a transcript of his remarks included in a campaign statement. “Because conventional thinking in Washington says Social Security is the third rail of American politics. It says you should hedge, dodge and spin, but at all costs, don’t answer.”
Mr. Obama said in a recent interview with The New York Times that he would start confronting Mrs. Clinton more forcefully, after concerns from supporters that he was not challenging her assertively enough.
A spokesman for the Clinton campaign, Phil Singer, said, “Senator Clinton has been clear about her position on Social Security.” She opposes privatizing it, Mr. Singer said, and if elected will work with Congress to develop long-term solutions.
Mrs. Clinton also found herself in the cross hairs of Mr. Edwards, who, fresh from registering in the New Hampshire primary, cited her fund-raising as reflective of a poisoned ethical culture of a Washington dominated by lobbyists.
Pointing to a $1,000-a-plate fund-raiser in Washington that Mrs. Clinton had with domestic security lobbyists and contractors, he said, “Senator Clinton’s road to the middle class takes a major detour right through the deep canyon of corporate lobbyists and the hidden bidding of K Street in Washington.”
“When I asked Hillary Clinton to join me in not taking money from Washington lobbyists — she refused,” he said, “not only did she say that she would continue to take their money, she defended them.”
Mr. Singer, the Clinton spokesman, said, “If John Edwards is so concerned about the influence of special interests, he should give back the hundreds of thousands of dollars he’s taken from health care, securities and insurance companies.”
Mr. Edwards was in New Hampshire registering for the primary along with several other candidates, including former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, who announced his endorsement by Senator Judd Gregg, Republican of New Hampshire.
Fred D. Thompson also registered for the primary and tried to dispel suggestions that he was not focused on winning the state. Mr. Thompson said the demands of a national campaign had prevented him from spending more time here. “You have to travel around the country a lot,” he said “But we are doing that. It’s all a part of the big picture. The name of the game is to win the primaries. And New Hampshire is a very important part of that.”
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