Clinton avoids overt criticism of Palin

New York, Sept.9 : In her first campaign outing since the Democratic National Convention, New York's junior Senator, Hillary Rodham Clinton, avoided criticizing new contender for female voters, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

The Obama Campaign is seeing Clinton as the best counter to Palin as far as attracting the votes of white working women and mothers who supported her during the Democratic primaries.

Leading an evening rally in Tampa, Clinton, however, chose to use a line that she had used at two earlier events -- "No way, no how, no McCain - no Palin!" When someone in the audience yelled, "Tell us about Palin," Clinton replied: "I don't think that's what this election is about. Anybody who believes that the Republicans, whoever they are, can fix the mess they created probably believes that the iceberg could have saved the Titanic."

Clinton told the predominantly white female audience of about 2,000 in Tampa that central Florida would be "the battleground of the battleground state."

During her 22-minute speech, the New York Times quoted her as saying that Obama offered better plans on health care and equal pay for women than did the McCain-Palin ticket.

Earlier, addressing a community event in Kissimmee, she asserted that the Republicans proposed few if any positive domestic policies during their convention in St. Paul.

In Orlando, Clinton drew cheers and applause from 1,600 people, when she said: "we must work as hard as we possibly can" to elect Obama.

At the Tampa rally, several Floridians said they were delighted to see Clinton, and added that they were put off by Palin.

ANI