Clinton Steps Up Attacks on Obama

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Dems Exchange Harsh Words

In the battle for Wisconsin, Democratic hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are accusing each other of plagiarism. Jim Axelrod reports.

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Obama beat Clinton to Wisconsin, arriving last Tuesday to celebrate his victories in the Potomac Primary in front of more than 16,000 cheering supporters in Madison. He devoted more staff members to Wisconsin -- opening 11 offices in the state, to Clinton's four -- and had TV ads in circulation six days before she did. But Clinton made a late play for a state that offers her some advantages.

Although repeatedly detoured by winter weather, Clinton paid attention to rural and working-class voters in areas far from Madison and Milwaukee, which are considered Obama's prime territory. She ran television ads in markets including Green Bay, Eau Claire and La Crosse, challenging Obama's proposals on health care and energy policy and accusing him of refusing to debate her.

Before departing for an election-eve rally in Beloit, Wis., Obama rallied thousands of cheering supporters in Youngstown, Ohio, where he defended the power of words.

He did not, however, use any of Patrick's lines.

"So, just to be clear, speeches don't put food on the table," Obama said, referring to one of Clinton's recent criticisms. "But the only way that we're going to bring about change is if all of you get excited about change.

"So I make no apologies," he said with a laugh, "for being able to talk good."

Slevin is traveling with the Obama campaign. Staff writers Jose Antonio Vargas and Alec MacGillis contributed to this report.