McCarthyism comment rebuked by Obama, Clinton camps

WASHINGTON — Supporters of Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama on Sunday both faulted Obama's campaign for allowing Retired Gen. Merrill "Tony" McPeak to equate comments by Clinton's husband — which appeared to question Obama's patriotism — to McCarthyism.

"I don't believe President Clinton was implying that," said New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who endorsed Obama last week. "But the point here ... is that the campaign has gotten too negative — too many personal attacks."

After the governor's endorsement of Obama, Clinton adviser James Carville compared Richardson to Judas. On Sunday, Richardson said: "I'm not going to get in the gutter like that. And you know, that's typical of many of the people around Senator Clinton. They think they have a sense of entitlement to the presidency."

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a Clinton supporter, said "the Obama campaign tries to have it both ways."

Both governors commented on "Fox News Sunday."

Tally electoral votes, superdelegates told

Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, who backs Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for president, proposed superdelegates judge whether to support Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama by considering the electoral votes of the states that each of them has won.

In a primary, of course, Electoral College votes are not relevant, but the Clinton campaign is trying to use them as an unofficial measure of strength. So far, Clinton has won states with 219 Electoral College votes, not counting Florida and Michigan, while Obama has won states with 202 electoral votes.

Obama is ahead of Clinton in most other leading indicators: popular vote, delegates and number of states won. The opinion polls are mixed but give Obama a slight edge.

Seattle Times news services