When it was her turn to speak to the forum, Clinton charged that Obama is blaming blue-collar workers for his own failure to connect with them:
"I don't think he really gets it: that people are looking for a president who stands up for you and not looks down on you."
Obama made his controversial comment in response to a question on why he was having difficulties connecting with white working-class voters in rural Pennsylvania. Clinton leads in polls of Pennsylvania, and she also has generally outperformed Obama among blue-collar workers.
"Instead of looking at himself, he blamed them," Clinton said.
As the Democratic brawl continued, McCain decided to try to cash in. His campaign sent out a fundraising letter yesterday describing Obama's philosophy as elitist and noting his prowess at raising money.
"If Barack Obama is the Democrat nominee in the general election, the American people will have a clear choice between two different visions - Sen. Obama's liberal, elitist philosophy and John McCain's faith in the small-town values that continue to make America great," wrote campaign manager Rick Davis. "John McCain will not forget them or write them off. Neither should Barack Obama."
Mike Dorning writes for the Chicago Tribune.
