BARACK OBAMA and Hillary Clinton have been campaigning across the midwestern state of Indiana, which along with North Carolina votes tomorrow in primaries both campaigns view as potential turning points in the Democratic presidential race. DENIS STAUNTONreports from Indianapolis
Polls show Mrs Clinton ahead in Indiana, with Mr Obama's lead in North Carolina, which was 20 points only a few weeks ago, now in single digits.
Mr Obama yesterday sought to move beyond the controversy over his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, whom he disowned last week, focusing on policy differences with Mrs Clinton over Iran.
Appearing on NBC's Meet The Press, Mr Obama criticised Mrs Clinton's threat to "totally obliterate" Iran if the Islamic republic launched a nuclear strike against Israel.
"It's not the language we need right now, and I think it's language reflective of George Bush. We have had a foreign policy of bluster and sabre-rattling and tough talk and in the meantime have made a series of strategic decisions that have actually strengthened Iran," he said.
"Senator Clinton, during the course of the campaign, has said we shouldn't speculate about Iran, we've got to be cautious when we're running for president. She scolded me on a couple of occasions on this issue, yet a few days before an election, she's willing to use that language."
Mrs Clinton defended her remarks, insisting that it was important to make clear to Iran the consequences of attacking Israel.
"Why would I have any regrets?
"I'm asked a question about what I would do if Iran attacked our ally, a country that many of us have a great deal of, you know, connection with and feeling for, for all kinds of reasons. And, yes, we would have massive retaliation against Iran," she said.
"I don't think they will do that, but I sure want to make it abundantly clear to them that they would face a tremendous cost if they did such a thing."
Mr Obama won a narrow victory in Saturday's caucuses on the Pacific island of Guam, defeating Mrs Clinton by just seven votes in a contest he had once been expected to win easily.
Buoyed by her win in Pennsylvania last month, Mrs Clinton is confident of victory in Indiana, and has spent heavily in North Carolina in the hope of narrowing Mr Obama's margin of victory or even winning there herself.
She said yesterday she would not withdraw until after the final primaries in early June and dismissed fears the campaign was creating irreparable divisions among Democrats.