Clinton tackles Obama over security issues

Hillary Clinton sharpened her criticism of Democratic presidential front-runner Barack Obama on national security issues as she and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, waged a campaign blitz in two big states she needs to win to keep her campaign afloat.

Ohio and Texas hold pivotal primaries on Tuesday, along with the smaller states of Vermont and Rhode Island. A total of 370 nominating convention delegates are at stake in the four states.

For the second straight day Mrs Clinton made national security the focus of her closing argument to voters, seeking to portray Mr Obama as inexperienced and untested.

“His entire campaign is based on a speech he gave at an anti-war rally in 2002,” Mrs Clinton told reporters aboard her campaign plane.

“The speech was not followed up by action, which is part of a pattern that we have seen repeatedly.”

Mr Obama fired back at a rally in Providence, Rhode Island, telling supporters: “Real change isn’t voting for George Bush’s war in Iraq and then telling the American people it was actually a vote for more diplomacy when you start running for president.”

Mrs Clinton has lost 11 straight contests, and many strategists argue that she must win the big tests on Tuesday to continue.

Polls have shown Texas to be a virtual dead heat and the outcome could hinge on which campaign does a better job of getting backers to the polls. Mrs Clinton has a lead, albeit a shrinking one, in Ohio and the same dynamic is in place.

“This is one of the most momentous decisions any Texan could make,” Mrs Clinton said. “You are, in effect, hiring the next president of the United States.”

Bill Clinton and daughter Chelsea were campaigning in Ohio on her behalf.

“Who is most likely to remember the look on your face and the concern in your heart after the election is over? You should say yes to Hillary,” said Mr Clinton.

Speaking with reporters, Mrs Clinton said she will continue to press national security issues.

“It’s a defining issue and it’s one that the voters of Texas and America deserve to think about,” said Mrs Clinton.

Mr Obama has announced he will spend Tuesday night in Texas. A win in Texas would allow him to counter the Clinton campaign’s argument that although he has won more states, she has carried the big states like California, New York and New Jersey.

Mr Obama has 1,385 delegates to Mrs Clinton’s 1,276. A total of 2,025 are needed to secure the Democratic nomination at the party’s convention in late August.