Hillary Clinton Charges Barack Obama

Hillary Clinton has accused Barack Obama of trying to keep people from voting for her as some backers have called for her to drop out of the presidential race.

By: Steven Chu
Mar 31, 2008, 8:25 PM EDT

Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton accused rival Sen. Barack Obama and his allies of trying to stop people from voting as some of his backers have called on her to drop out of the presidential race.

The Obama campaign immediately rejected the unnecessary charge, dismissing Clinton's criticism as "completely laughable."

In a series of television interviews in states hosting upcoming contests, Clinton vowed to press on with her campaign and suggested Obama and his supporters wanted to keep those states from playing a role in selecting the party's presidential nominee.

Meanwhile, Obama has spent nearly $2 million on television ads in Pennsylvania before the April 22 contest. Clinton has spent about $440,000 in the state for television ads.

The two campaigns have dueled with expenses totaling $299.2 million by February's end, totaling $159 million for Obama and $141 million for Clinton. The total will go well beyond the $300 million mark once March expenses are calculated.

Clinton set a goal of raising $3 million in March. In her video message on the Internet, she said, "We are going to do this. But I am being outspent 2-to-1, 3-to-1, 4-to-1, even 5-to-1, so I need your help now more than ever."

Clinton listed having nearly $300,000 in unpaid invoices from health insurance firms that cover her staff. Her campaign also listed owing $3,161 to her Park Ridge alma mater, Maine South High School, where her campaign held a political event on February 4, the day before the Illinois primary.