Newsday

Clinton not committing to a debate
BY CHAU LAM
AND GLENN THRUSH. STAFF WRITERS

August 26, 2006

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton returned to the Hamptons Friday for another fundraising event - but not before sidestepping whether she'd debate Jonathan Tasini, her anti-war challenger in the Sept. 12 Democratic primary.

Clinton essentially repeated what she said on her Aug. 18 visit to Long Island but added that she's not avoiding Tasini's demand. "No. I am campaigning. I've been campaigning hard around the state, having a great time, getting out, seeing a lot of people and we'll have to see how the campaign develops," Clinton said at a Super Stop & Shop supermarket in Amityville.

Earlier, Clinton offerred support to Ned Lamont, the Connecticut Democrat who upset Sen. Joe Lieberman in their primary contest. Later it was learned that her former political aide Howard Wolfson, still an ally, will work for Lamont.

Clinton was due to attend a fundraiser for Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) Friday night at the East Hampton estate of major Clinton donors Alan and Susan Patricof.

Tasini, who has made Clinton's vote authorizing the Iraq war his main campaign theme, in a phone interview said: "I think it's disrespectful to the voters and disrespectful to the democratic process to dodge and run and hide."

Two protesters showed up at Clinton's news conference inside the supermarket to protest her war stance.

"Bring the troops home now," one unidentified woman, who held up a homemade sign, shouted. "Stop the war."

Outside, Susan Blake, 53, of Amityville, also demanded Clinton stop authorizing more money for the war effort. "She said it takes a village to raise a child. ... You can't be giving food for children at home and giving arms to bomb children overseas," she said.