With Pennsylvania holding the key to her chances of staying alive in the United States presidential race, Hillary Clinton is fighting with her back against the wall and has launched an aggressive campaign questioning her opponent Barack Obama's credentials on ending the war in Iraq.
Seeking to distance herself from husband Bill Clinton on free trade agreements, opposed by workers and unions, in this working class voters state which goes to poll on April 22, Clinton, addressing a campaign meeting on Wednesday said only she had the will to end the war in Iraq.
"Obama only talks, but would not end the war and presumptive Republican candidate John McCain would only continue the war; the choice is very clear," Clinton said.
"One candidate is ready, willing and able to end the war and to rebuild our military, while honouring our soldiers and veterans," she said speaking of herself.
The reference of honouring soldiers and veterans is apparently linked to oft repeated charges that the Bush administration is not taking good care of the veterans and soldiers who are injured in war.
Clinton's argument that her Republican rival does not have the will to end war, as his campaign explained, is based on the remarks of his former adviser Samantha Power, who had told a paper that he (Obama) might take longer to end the war, depending on conditions.
Meanwhile, at his campaign meeting, Obama attacked both Clinton and McCain for voting to authorise the Iraq war as Republicans branded Clinton's strategy to start bringing home the troops within months as unwise.
Obama continued his attack on Clinton and McCain on the now well known lines that both would be under the influence of lobbyists and it would be business as usual if anyone of them gets elected.
Presenting himself as the only candidate who could take on lobbyists and safeguard people's interest, he said there would be no lobbyist in Obama's White House.
Both Clinton and Obama are trying to woo younger voters, who are now considered a powerful voice with parents telling pollsters that their children could have an influence on the way they vote.
Clinton's daughter Chelsea is also campaigning for her mother, especially in schools and universities and has addressed close to one hundred meetings so far.
Though Clinton still maintains a slight edge over Obama in the opinion polls, it is being fast eroded. The stakes are very high, for it could be a fatal blow to her campaign if she loses. But a victory would keep it alive and give ammunition to her to woo super delegates, the senior party functionaries, who are likely to ultimately decide on the nominee, as neither candidate is likely to have a majority of pledged delegates.
Meanwhile, both Obama and Clinton have launched vigorous television ad campaigns. Obama is expected to spend much more than Clinton, considering his campaign has set records in fund raising.
