Sen. Clinton defends her campaign's tenor

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York Tuesday said Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois was "looking for a fight" in Monday night's debate.

Clinton said when Obama entered the Democratic debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C., he was "very frustrated" after losses in the New Hampshire primary and the Nevada Democratic caucuses.

When asked whether recent comments by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, about Obama could divide the Democratic Party, Clinton defended her husband, The Hill reported.

"That has absolutely nothing to do with a unified Democratic Party around the nominee and full support for whoever our Democratic president will be," Clinton said. "That is just the way it works. I've been through this countless times."

During the debate, Obama said while he was helping people who lost their jobs in Chicago, Clinton was "a corporate lawyer sitting on the board at Wal-Mart." Clinton shot back referencing Obama's ties to indicted businessman Tony Rezko, who she called a "slumlord."

"The events of the last 10 or so days, particularly the outcomes in New Hampshire and Nevada, have apparently convinced him to adopt a different strategy," Clinton said, adding he was "looking for a fight.

"He telegraphed it. … And I thought it was important to set the record straight," she said.