Both Democratic Candidates Take Aim And Fire At One Another

[Hillary Clinton] clutched two negative fliers sent to Ohio voters by the Obama campaign that she says make false claims about her position on health care and trade agreements. "Shame on you Barack Obama. It is time you ran a campaign that is consistent with your messages in public. That's what I expect from you," Mrs. Clinton said.

Mr. Obama quickly fired back. "These are accurate," he said of the fliers. He also accused his rival of hypocrisy in denouncing the negative campaigning. "We have been subject to constant attack from the Clinton campaign, except when we were down 20 points. And that was true in Iowa. It was true in South Carolina. It was true in Wisconsin. And it is true now."

He also questioned why Sen. Clinton raised the issue of the fliers now, weeks after they were first mailed to Ohio voters. "It makes me think there was something tactical about her getting so exercised this morning," he said at a campaign stop in Columbus, Ohio.

Politicians Not Shy of Talking Up Religion

U.S. politicians are not shy of talking about their religion and regularly appear in church.

In recent decades, part of the American political drama has been scripted by the "religious right" -- mostly white evangelical Protestants united by strong opposition to abortion and gay marriage who have been a key base of support for the Republican Party.

Republican hopeful Mike Huckabee, who scooped up strong evangelical support but whose campaign is fading ahead of next Tuesday's nominating contests across the country, is a Baptist preacher who peppers his speeches with Biblical allusions.

Mitt Romney is a Mormon who was moved to address questions about his faith in a speech in December. John McCain has long sought to smooth relations after including leaders of the religious right among those he called "agents of intolerance" during his failed presidential bid in 2000.

The leading Democratic presidential contenders have also been open and candid about their faith.

That faith, and that of the Republican candidates, is Christian, although candidates have also spoken about the need for religious tolerance.

A false rumor that has circulated on the Internet about Democratic candidate Barack Obama, whose father was Kenyan, is that he is Muslim who has lied about his religion. The rumor appears to illustrate the importance some voters attach to a candidate being Christian.

Outbursts, Rebukes, Questions of Honesty: Barack and Hillary Campaigning in South Carolina

CHARLES BABINGTON writes:

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Democrat Barack Obama questioned Hillary Rodham Clinton's candor and trustworthiness Wednesday, saying she has indulged in double-talk on bankruptcy laws, trade and other issues.

The Illinois senator's comments, continuing a theme he has stressed in recent days, may have contributed to an outburst by former President Clinton, who rebuked Obama and sharply accused journalists of treating him more gently than they treat the Clintons.

The atmosphere grew more charged throughout the day after Clinton's campaign aired an ad in South Carolina suggesting Obama approved of Republican ideas.

Questions about the candidates' honesty and consistency have been paramount since Monday's testy presidential debate between Obama and Clinton...

Huckabee Claims a Higher Power Drives His Rise