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US economy 'needs help'
20/11/2007 07:20 - (SA)
Knoxville - The economy needs help and fast, Hillary Rodham Clinton declared on Monday, claiming she had the experience for the job and saying the United States cannot afford to break in a newcomer.
In speech excerpts provided by the Clinton campaign, the New York senator suggested that Democratic rival Barack Obama and other candidates lack the experience necessary to address the US's fiscal challenges.
"There is one job we can't afford on-the-job training for our next president. That could be the costliest job training in history," Clinton said.
Locked in tight race
"Every day spent learning the ropes is another day of rising costs, mounting deficits and growing anxiety for our families. And they cannot afford to keep waiting."
Clinton delivered the speech on the first day of a two-day visit to Iowa, the first voting state. Polls show her locked in a tight race with first-term Illinois Senator Obama and one-term former North Carolina Senator John Edwards just over six weeks before the state holds its caucuses on January 3.
For months, Clinton has hinted that Obama, less than three years into his first term, lacks the preparation to deal with US foreign policy challenges.
In Monday's address, she suggested the nation's budget deficit, income inequality and lack of comprehensive health coverage also required a more experienced steward.
"We need a president who understands the magnitude and complexity of the challenges we face and has the strength and experience to address them from day one," she said.
Speaking with reporters in Iowa, Obama was asked about Clinton's comments and offered a sharp response.
"My understanding is she wasn't Treasury Secretary in the Clinton administration. I don't know exactly what experience she's claiming," he said.
"Rather than just assert experience, if she has specific differences with me in regard to economic policy then let's have that debate."
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