Clinton: Obama not ready for big battle

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Hillary Clinton said Sunday that Barack Obama is likely not ready for the true battle associated with a presidential general election campaign.

Clinton, the senator from New York and wife of former President Bill Clinton, took time on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" to say her race with Obama, the senator from Illinois, for the Democratic presidential nomination has remained civil, a focus he would not enjoy during the general election.

"I know people look at this campaign and say, well, somebody said this and somebody said that, but by all accounts there haven't been the kind of attack ads that you're going to see in the general election," Clinton said.

She said that based on his previous electoral races, Obama has never been exposed to such bitter attacks.

"The other side has no compunction about raising any issue against whomever they're running against, and we haven't seen that tested and vetted experience this primary," she said of general elections. "And frankly, in his prior election in Illinois, Sen. Obama didn't face anyone who ran attack ads against him."

Clinton also outlined her own extensive experience in such matters and how it would benefit her and her party should she earn the Democratic nod.