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Spencer's up-Hil battle

Despite aggressive tactics, GOP candidate finds Sen. Clinton difficult to draw into meaningful debate

BY GLENN THRUSH | Newsday Washington Bureau

October 21, 2006

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - GOP hopeful John Spencer struggled mightily to pick a fight with Hillary Rodham Clinton at Friday night's Senate debate, but Clinton seemed intent on flaying the elephant who wasn't in the room: George W. Bush.

Trailing by more than 35 points in recent polls and short on cash, the former Yonkers mayor charged hard at Clinton. He accused her of demoralizing troops by criticizing the administration's Iraq policy and failing to fulfill a pledge to bring 200,000 jobs upstate. And he mocked her for using the 2006 race as a test lap for a 2008 presidential campaign.

"You're not president yet, Mrs. Clinton," quipped Spencer, during a relatively low-key exchange on the University of Rochester campus.

"We all know what Sen. Clinton's aspirations are, and that takes away from New Yorkers," he said. "New Yorkers become number two, I want to make New Yorkers number one."

At times, Spencer seemed frustrated by Clinton's unwillingness to mix it up - or even to address him directly.

After the debate, Spencer sought out reporters to deliver an upbeat assessment of his performance. In stark contrast, Clinton stood onstage for 15 minutes refusing to answer reporters' questions as she signed admirers' autographs.

The hour-long faceoff aired on cable outlets throughout the state, the first of two debates before the Nov. 7 general election. A second debate will be held in Manhattan at 9 a.m. Sunday.

Friday night, the League of Women voters withdrew its support for both debates because Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins was excluded.

Clinton stayed cool under Spencer's criticism, reciting oft-repeated dissections of Bush administration actions in Iraq, GOP energy policy, and the administration's failure to capture Osama bin Laden. She touted her accomplishments in bringing federal money to the upstate region, particularly for technology development.

She took aim at a GOP Internet video claiming that Democratic control of Congress would embolden bin Laden. Spencer's campaign produced a similar ad this summer.

"With respect to the Republicans using Osama bin Laden and other terrorists as part of their political scare tactics, I find it very disappointing," Clinton said. "The fact is Osama bin Laden is still at large. ... He can taunt us, he can send out all kinds of challenges to us."

Clinton was on the defensive in the first few minutes when Spencer and a panelist peppered her with questions about her presidential aspirations.

"Obviously people are talking about whether or not I will or should run for president," she said. "If that is a concern for people, they should factor it in to their decision in November. I have made no decisions."

When NY1 News correspondent Dominic Carter said, "C'mon. ... You haven't thought about it at all?" Clinton responded with, "I didn't say that."