Hillary Slaps Back at McCain Ads

"My name is Hillary Clinton and I do not approve that message."

That's the message the New York senator tried to get across today when she sent today in an e-mail to supporters, responding to ads launched by John McCain's campaign specifically targeting her supporters. The recent "Debra" ad featuring a "Hillary Democrat" listing reasons why she's voting for McCain is the cause of Clinton's ire.

Speaking at a New York State delegation breakfast this morning in Denver, Colo., Clinton listed the reasons why Barack Obama must be elected - to maintain balance in the Supreme Court, change the education system for the better, energy independence, green collar jobs, etc....

Then, she sent an "'absolutely clear" message to those of her supporters who may be entertaining the idea of throwing their vote to McCain after Clinton's primary defeat to Obama: "None of that will happen if John McCain is in the White House. I just want to make it absolutely clear we cannot afford four more years of George W. Bush's failed policies in America and that's what we would get with John McCain.
"Now I understand that the McCain campaign is running ads trying to divide us and let me state what I think about their tactics and these ads: I am Hillary Clinton and I do not approve that message.

"So let there be the no mistake about it, we are united. We are united for change."

Hmmm, not sure exactly everyone's united. Lots of news today about various polls and what not showing that there's a good chunk of Hillary supporters and delegates still reluctant about Obama, and about 30 percent, according to a USA Today/Gallup, who are voting for McCain, someone else, or not at all. Then you have news, brought to you in a post by my fellow PM blogger, Mark Impomeni, that some Hillary advisers will skip Obama's speech, and some admit there's still some bitterness going on.

This crack in the "unity" facade is going to have to be fixed and be fixed fast, particularly when polls left and right show McCain closing the gap between him and Obama.

A Washington Post-ABC News poll released just before Obama announced his selection of Joe Biden as his No. 2 recently found that McCain has a clear edge as a potential commander in chief but Obama has a sizable advantage on economic issues. Other polls also show Obama and McCain in a virtual dead heat.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., today acknowledged that Democrats "had not yet achieved the complete reconciliation that we need" but she decried the media focus of the rift between Clinton and Obama supporters.

"You know what? This is like a yesterday room," she told the reporters. "We are going into the future. What did I walk into, a time capsule?"