[Associated Press]The furor over Sen. Barack Obama's words about bitter voters in small towns “cling[ing] to guns…religion” looms large as the Chicago Senator and rival Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton are set to debate tonight in in Philadelphia just days before the Pennsylvania primary.
The 90-minute debate at the National Constitution Center will be the first for the two candidates in two months. They last met in Cleveland on Feb. 26, shortly before Clinton injected new life into her campaign with primary wins in Ohio and Texas.
The event will be the 21st debate of the Democratic nominating contest. It might also be the last.
Obama accepted an invitation to debate on Saturday in North Carolina. Clinton said she would debate there on April 27. Neither campaign has agreed on a date. North Carolina holds its primary May 6.
The Philadelphia debate came amid a heated back-and-forth between the two over Obama comments at a private San Francisco fundraiser in which he said residents of small towns cling to religion and guns out of bitterness over their economic plight.
Clinton has called the remarks elitist, while Obama said he chose the wrong words to express the economic insecurity many workers face. Both campaigns are running television ads in Pennsylvania that focus on the controversy.
Clinton hopes to raise doubts about Obama's electability in a face-off with Republican Sen. John McCain to persuade undecided super-delegates — the elected officials and party leaders free to vote their preference — to back her candidacy.
Polls show Clinton leading Obama in Pennsylvania, but the margin in some polls has narrowed significantly in recent weeks. Other polls show Clinton with a double digit lead, and all polls show a remarkable percentage (12%) of Pennsylvania Democrats remain undecided—underscoring the importance of tonight’s debate.
The former first lady must score a decisive victory in the state to keep her candidacy alive.
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