by John McCormick
LOS ANGELES – Meeting with reporters this morning, Sen. Barack Obama gave himself strong marks in last night’s debate, as he suggested his nomination opponent was less than honest in her appearance and that he would make a stronger general election candidate.
“I thought the debate last night was good,” he said. “I though it was substantive.”
But Obama said there were “at least three significant differences” for voters to weigh from the debate: their approaches to Iraq, health care reform and how they would deal with lobbyists.
“There is a sharp contrast in our attitude with respect to how we got into Iraq,” he said. “I thought Sen. Clinton described some of her approaches for going forward, but still has not adequately explained her vote to go into Iraq. Again, I think that’s important because it speaks to the judgment that is going to be applied to future conflicts.”
Specifically, Obama criticized Clinton for a comment she made about an amendment debated during the lead up to the war.
“I think there continues to be a suggestion that it was not a vote for war, and I thought her explanation with respect to the Levin amendment was inaccurate,” he said.
Obama said he believes that he was able to appear as experienced and knowledgeable as the former first lady. “Voters who watched last night recognized that I know what I’m talking about,” he said.
The debate showed his party’s eagerness to take on a Republican in this fall’s general election, Obama said.
“It indicated the degree to which the Democrats are energized and excited, and I think we will be successful come the general election,” he said. “But we will be especially excited if I am the nominee.”
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The Illinois Democrat had started his 24-minute news conference in a downtown hotel ballroom by speaking about the economy and a new, negative jobs report.
“It is clear that the economy is slowing down and that families all across the country need urgent relief,” he said. “I urge the president, the House and the Senate to get together as quickly as possible to initiate an economic stimulus plan along the lines that I had recommended earlier, to provide tax rebates that can get into the pockets of ordinary citizens as quickly as possible.”
If the economy worsens, Obama agreed, when asked, that he would have to make trims to his domestic agenda, although he said expanding health care would remain a top priority.
“We would have to make adjustments based on what the economic situation was. I can’t project a year from now, when I am sworn in, what the economy is going to look like, what are revenues are going to look like….I am a strong proponent of pay as you go, which means I will not make proposals that are not paid for. If it turns out that we are in a tight budget situation, then I will make adjustments accordingly.”
Asked whether he had specifically asked John Edwards for his endorsement, Obama said “absolutely,” adding that he expects to “continue to reach out to him.”
Obama downplayed any suggestion that he might pick up an endorsement from Gov. Bill Richardson during a stop later today in New Mexico.
“We have no plans of receiving an endorsement, but I would love to be pleasantly surprised,” he said of Richardson. “I’ve been in conversations with Gov. Richardson, as I’m sure the Clinton campaign has.”
Obama also said goodbye to California, where he spent relatively little time campaigning in the final days before voters in the delegate-rich state weigh in next week on Super Tuesday.
He said he believes he has a good chance in the state, but needs to focus his attention elsewhere in the next few days. “I think this is going to be very competitive, but we’ve got 22 states,” he said.
“I hope everyone had a chance to enjoy the 65-degree weather because we won’t see it for a while,” he said, referring to an upcoming schedule that includes stops in New Mexico, the Midwest and the Northeast between now and Tuesday.