Clinton: Obama sought to pick a fight

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton charged that Sen. Barack Obama was "looking for a fight" in their Monday debate as they resumed their war of words Tuesday, while John Edwards insisted he's the only "grown-up" in the Democratic presidential race.

Before leaving on a cross-country campaign trip, the New York senator said that after Obama lost Nevada's caucus Saturday, his advisers "have apparently convinced him to adopt a different strategy. He clearly came ... last night looking for a fight."

The Illinois senator got in his own jabs during a media conference call, saying, "it's very clear that Senator Clinton and President Clinton have been spending the last month attacking me in ways that are not accurate."

Edwards, meanwhile, tried to paint himself as the statesman, telling supporters in Conway, "I was proud to represent the grown-up wing of the Democratic Party last night." The Seneca, S.C., native and former North Carolina senator called the Obama-Clinton spat "petty, petty bickering" as he talked about his economic plan, which includes creating more jobs involving renewable-energy technologies and reducing the number of home foreclosures.

Huckabee cites money troubles

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Republican Mike Huckabee said Tuesday his presidential campaign is facing financial difficulties with top advisers working without pay and some aides quitting.

The former Arkansas governor promised to remain in the race through Tuesday's Florida primary, telling about 50 people, mostly University of Florida fraternity members: "We are taking a look at everything daily. But we will be here every day in Florida until next week."

Earlier Tuesday in Atlanta, adviser Ed Rollins said top advisers are working without pay and some have left.

The campaign has stopped arranging charter flights, hotel reservations and other means of helping journalists keep up with his movements. News organizations pay their own expenses, but empty seats on charter planes were costing the campaign money.

Dems' debate set cable viewing mark

NEW YORK — Monday's Democratic debate on CNN set a standard as most-watched debate in cable news.

An estimated 4.9 million people watched the debate from South Carolina, which featured contentious exchanges between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. It eclipsed CNN's Nov. 28 debate with Republican candidates, which had nearly 4.5 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Cable doesn't have the reach of broadcast TV, however: ABC's prime-time Democratic debate Jan. 5 before the New Hampshire primary was seen by 9.36 million people, Nielsen said.

Seven of the 10 most-watched primary debates in cable TV history are from this election cycle. Such debates have been shown on cable TV since 1996.

Seattle Times news services