Clinton Handles Lobbying Question

Asked about taking money from lobbyists, Clinton gave the answer she should have given during last weekend's YearlyKos forum.

"I believe we've got to have fundamental reform in Washington," said Clinton, noting that she backs ending the revolving door system of lobbying, no bid contracts and other approaches she ascribed to the Bush administration. As she did last Saturday, Clinton cited her record of fighting against special interests during the early 1990s debate over health care.

If Clinton had said something similar last Saturday, she would have avoided the "Hillary defends lobbyists" storyline after that debate.

After Clinton's answer, Obama hammered home his reform message, pointing out that it is a vitally important distinction that he does not take money from registered federal lobbyists. "The reason that's important is the people in this stadium need to know who we are going to fight for," Obama said.