Clinton takes Democrats' fire . . . and Bush's praise

CONWAY, N.H. — It was a day of attacks and parries over the credentials of the Democratic candidates for president, exchanges that saw Hillary Rodham Clinton belittle Barack Obama, John Edwards tweak Clinton and -- in the oddest twist -- President Bush praise the New York senator's experience. At least on Tuesday, the Democratic race for president looked more like a shoving match than a civil airing of policy differences.

The volleys came as Clinton also began fighting back against Republican White House contenders who have tried to strengthen their standing among conservatives by airing biting TV ads against her. Facing a dip in her Iowa and New Hampshire poll ratings, Clinton responded with an ad saying the "old Republican attack machine" was back and attacking her because of her strength and experience.

Combined, Clinton's assault against Obama and her Republican critics underscored the fragility of her status as the national front-runner for the Democratic nomination.

In Iowa, which kicks off the presidential races with its Jan. 3 caucuses, Obama and Clinton are virtually tied in the polls, and Edwards, the former North Carolina senator, is close behind. Clinton's lead in New Hampshire has also narrowed in recent days.

Most unusual on Tuesday was the intervention of Bush and his wife in the Democratic contest. Calling Clinton a "very formidable candidate," the president told ABC News: "There is no question that Sen. Clinton understands pressure better than any of the candidates, you know, in the race."

Laura Bush underscored a key rationale for Clinton's White House run, saying her predecessor's experience as first lady would be "very helpful" in the Oval Office. "You certainly know what it's like," she said. "You know the pressure there is. You know the difficulties."

Amid the tightening race, Clinton on Tuesday took a more aggressive posture toward Obama. She ridiculed the Illinois senator for having said the day before that his strongest experience in foreign relations was four years of living in Indonesia from ages 6 to 10. Clinton said that as a first lady and senator, she had "met with countless world leaders" and knew them personally.

"Now voters will judge whether living in a foreign country at the age of 10 prepares one to face the big, complex international challenges the next president will face," Clinton told a crowd in Shenandoah, Iowa, via a telephone hookup from Omaha.