Published on Friday, November 02, 2007

Democratic White House hopeful John Edwards accused rival Hillary Rodham Clinton of using "double talk" as he campaigned Friday in this early voting state.

"I think Sen. Clinton should be held to the same standard that everyone else is held to," the former North Carolina senator said.

The New York Democrat has been criticized since Tuesday night's Democratic debate, especially for her response when asked about a proposal her home state governor has to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. She first expressed support for the idea. She then grew defensive and said she wasn't saying it should be done, although she recognizes why the governor is trying to do it even though she doesn't think it's "the best thing for any governor to do."

Edwards also has criticized Clinton online, posting a video Friday on the Internet that portrays her sidestepping or equivocating during the debate.

"What I heard was Sen. Clinton saying she wanted to be for change but defending a broken system and Washington," he said Friday. "Since the debate, we've continued to hear spin, smoke and mirrors _ the same kind of double talk _ to get away from the very serious issues that are in front of us in this campaign."

Zac Wright, spokesman for Clinton in South Carolina, said Edwards pledged in 2004 to not attack other Democrats.

"Now that his campaign has stalled, he's launching false attacks on his fellow Democrats. Voters will certainly be asking whether Mr. Edwards' pledges to be positive in 2004 were anything more than just a political tactic," Wright said.

Edwards met with a dozen laid off and former textile industry workers at a mobile home near Lancaster later in the day. South Carolina, which typically has unemployment rates above the national average, has lost tens of thousands of jobs in that sector since it peaked in the 1970s.

He said the U.S. needs tougher foreign trade protections that look out for workers.

"The government is corrupt," he said. "We've got money and power concentrated in a few people."

Edwards is behind Clinton in recent polls.

A Winthrop University/South Carolina ETV poll released Thursday shows Edwards with 10 percent of support among likely Democratic primary voters. Clinton had 33 percent and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who also was campaigning in the state Friday, had 23 percent.

The telephone survey of 534 likely Democratic primary voters between Oct. 7-28 had a sampling error margin of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

At his final public stop in Rock Hill on Friday afternoon, Edwards and actor Danny Glover stopped at a community center and walked down a dusty road to houses without running water or sewer service.

"It almost feels like it's in a disaster area," Glover said of the conditions. "This is unimaginable and intolerable."

"I intend to do everything in my power to help them." Edwards added.