US: HILLARY CLINTON has adopted a harsher tone in her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, accusing frontrunner Barack Obama of misrepresenting, in mailshots to voters, her positions on healthcare reform and free trade.
"Shame on you, Barack Obama," Mrs Clinton said during a campaign rally in Ohio, which votes on March 4th in a primary that could, along with a contest in Texas the same day, determine her future in the race.
"It is time you ran a campaign consistent with your messages in public. That's what I expect from you.
"Meet me in Ohio. Let's have a debate about your tactics and your behaviour in this campaign."
Mrs Clinton claims that one direct mail flyer distorts her plan to oblige everyone to take out health insurance by ignoring the measures she is proposing to make coverage affordable to all.
A second flyer quotes Mrs Clinton as describing the unpopular North American Free Trade Agreement, which her husband signed as president, as a "boon" to the US economy, a word she says she did not use.
"Enough with the speeches and the big rallies and then using tactics that are right out of Karl Rove's playbook," Mrs Clinton said yesterday, referring to George W Bush's election strategist.
Mr Obama insisted the flyers were accurate and accused Mrs Clinton of hypocrisy in accusing him of negative campaigning.
"We have been subject to constant attack from the Clinton campaign, except when we were down 20 points.
"That was true in Iowa, it was true in South Carolina, it was true in Wisconsin and it is true now," he said.
Polls show the candidates in a dead heat in Texas, with Mrs Clinton seven points ahead in Ohio.
A Washington Postpoll last week, however, suggested that Mrs Clinton may be more successful in Ohio and Texas in retaining the support of key groups such as Hispanics, women and white working-class voters, many of whom abandoned her in recent contests.
Mrs Clinton held back from attacking Mr Obama during a debate in Austin, Texas, last Thursday but her remarks over the weekend suggest that she may take a more aggressive approach at tomorrow's debate in Cleveland, Ohio.
Trailing among the delegates who will choose the Democratic nominee at a convention next August, Mrs Clinton has seen powerful figures in Congress, the trade union movement and the party establishment drift towards Mr Obama as he has won all 11 contests since Super Tuesday on February 5th.
Morale within her campaign is low as aides scramble to explain what has gone wrong, with some blaming the prominent role played by former president Bill Clinton.
Addressing the State of the Black Union conference in New Orleans on Saturday, Mrs Clinton apologised for comments her husband made about Mr Obama that upset African-Americans.
"If anyone was offended by anything that was said, whether it was meant or not, or misinterpreted or not, then obviously, I regret that," she said.
Mr Obama turned down an invitation to appear at the conference, telling the organisers he was too busy campaigning in Texas and Ohio.
Meanwhile Ralph Nader has said he will run as an independent candidate in November, his third presidential bid since 2000, when many Democrats believe he cost former vice-president Al Gore the election.
Announcing his candidacy yesterday on NBC's Meet the Press, the consumer rights campaigner said all the leading contenders for the presidency were too close to big business.
