Girl -- No, She Didn't Say That. Oh Yes, She Did.

It was the four-letter word no one expected to come out of Hillary Clinton's mouth.

"For 15 years, I have stood up against the right-wing machine and I've come out stronger," she said during Tuesday night's debate in Chicago."So if you want a winner who knows how to take them on, I'm your girl."

Girl? Whoa. Didn't know we could say that. Can she? We asked several politically prominent girls what they thought. Laura Bush and Nancy Pelosi declined to comment.

Linda Sanchez (D), California congresswoman:

"Women are always going to have to deal with an unfair attention to labels. Some embrace the b-word, others prefer 'girl,' others simply don't care. . . . I don't think anybody is seriously challenging Hillary Clinton's gravitas, intellect or leadership [because of it]. . . . Frankly, any woman who has been successful at anything has been called way worse by others."

Arianna Huffington, author and commentator:

"I loved it because it was unexpected, because it was delivered with a lot of feeling and sense of fun -- and a beaming smile as a punctuation mark at the end. . . . You call your friends 'girls,' so in that setting, the unexpected intimacy of the term worked very well."

Patricia McGuire, president of Trinity University, the region's only remaining women's college:

"If she's trying to appeal to the 20-something demographic, she's their girl. But if she's trying to appeal to the 50-something feminist, she's committed a horrible faux pas linguistically. . . . It's a lightweight word for a presidential candidate. The men would not say, 'I'm your boy.' What's the female equivalent of 'I'm da man'?"

Michelle Bernard, president of conservative Independent Women's Forum:

"I was taken aback -- not in a positive or negative way. It's just something I'm unaccustomed to hearing. But probably because she's the first [front-runner] woman candidate for president . . . there's no reason for her to run away from the fact that she's a woman."

[But . . . she said "girl."]

"Oh. I was taken aback."

Carol Schwartz (R), D.C. Council member:

"I find nothing wrong with that statement. I know if it were a man, he would say, 'I'm your guy.' Now what's wrong with Hillary Clinton saying, 'I'm your girl'? I find it insulting that there would be discussion about this. . . . This girl was very glad to be called to get her opinion."

Laura Ingraham, conservative radio host, bottom:

"It would have really gotten the crowd going if she slipped and said, " . . . then I'm your Goldwater Girl.' "

Amber Lee Ettinger, star of Internet sensation "I've Got a Crush on Obama":

"I don't think the term is demeaning at all. It's fun! And I think it's great that a female is running for president, whether or not she calls herself a girl or a woman. At this moment, I don't mind being called Obama Girl. Hey, even my mom gets called Obama Mama!"

After a Big Celebration, It's 'Ciao' Time

Which second-honeymoon hot spot did John and Elizabeth Edwards escape to after renewing their vows on their 30th anniversary last week? While he stumped for votes in California, we've learned that she headed off to romantic Italy -- with daughters Cate and Emma Claire.

The hush-hush "girls' vacation" was inspired, in part, by late son Wade's interest in Greek and Roman history, a subject 9-year-old Emma Claire has taken up. Mainly, the trip was designed to get in touch with their roots. "Elizabeth is part Italian and proud of her heritage," said spokeswoman Colleen Murray. "She wanted to show her daughters Italy and experience the culture together."

The family is expected home tomorrow. Elizabeth will be back on the campaign trail next week; Cate, 25, is headed up to Boston for her second year at Harvard Law School.

Vow and Again: Saying 'I Do' One More Time

(Missy McLamb)

John and Elizabeth Edwards renewing their wedding vows last week in their Chapel Hill, N.C., back yard, from the upcoming issue of People; the magazine also exclusively nabbed a new excerpt from the updated paperback version of Elizabeth's memoir, "Saving Graces."

HEY, ISN'T THAT . . . ?

· David Beckham, covering more ground off the field than he's likely to see in tonight's game at RFK. The Los Angeles Galaxy superstar, still nursing an injured ankle, joined his teammates Tuesday night at Morton's steakhouse in Crystal City -- the players are regulars at the upscale chain's Burbank restaurant. Beckham (minus glam spouse Posh, apparently still on the West Coast) had a porterhouse steak; sat in the middle of the dining room. Yesterday morning, a "friendly" Becks, two friends, a bodyguard and driver popped into Georgetown's Bean Counter (telling staff, "I hear you have really great coffee") for a mocha frap and a chocolate muffin, posed for pictures and joked around.