PITTSBURGH - A fight broke out last night between the campaign teams of Senator Hilary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama following a hard-fought debate contest in which Obama prevailed. The status of both candidates, and members of their staffs, could be in jeopardy for Friday evenings’ town hall meeting at the Berkeley Hills VFW Post.
According to witnesses, the brawl started when both sides were heading for their respective locker rooms through a common tunnel following a spirited ninety minute clash at Hempfield High School . A security guard working the debate, who did not wish to provide his name, said he had to restrain Senator Clinton during the altercation. “There were a lot of punches thrown, and she would have been right in there throwing her share if I hadn’t held her back,” he said. A Clinton campaign spokesman acknowledged that “tensions were high” between both groups, and that “words were exchanged” between the candidates as they moved through the handshake line following the debate.
A representative of the Obama campaign said Senator Clinton called Senator Obama “inexperienced.” Senator Obama is alleged to have called Senator Clinton a “monster.” An emergency hearing before Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean is scheduled for this evening. It is possible Chairman Dean could levy a one-debate suspension that would make either one, or both candidates ineligible for Friday night’s town hall meeting. A ruling is expected following the hearing.
