US: Intense rivalry between Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008 has erupted into a noisy row over the shifting loyalties of billionaire film and music producer David Geffen, writes Denis Staunton in Washington
Mr Geffen, who was one of former president Bill Clinton's most energetic and successful fundraisers, held a $1.3 million campaign event for Mr Obama in Los Angeles this week and called the Clintons liars.
"Everybody in politics lies but they do it with such ease, it's troubling," Mr Geffen told New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd.
He said that while Mr Obama was inspirational, Ms Clinton was a polarising figure who was so over-produced and over-scripted that she could not admit that she was wrong to support the Bill that authorised President George Bush to launch the Iraq war.
"It's not a very big thing to say, 'I made a mistake' on the war, and typical of Hillary Clinton that she can't.
"She's so advised by so many smart advisers who are covering every base," he said.
In an apparent reference to Mr Clinton's private life, Mr Geffen described the former president as "a reckless guy" who had given his enemies a lot of ammunition.
"I don't think anybody believes that in the last six years, all of a sudden Bill Clinton has become a different person," he said.
Ms Clinton's campaign responded to Mr Geffen's remarks with outrage, demanding that Mr Obama should denounce the mogul's meddling and give back any money he had raised for the Illinois senator's campaign.
Mr Obama's campaign noted that "the Clintons had no problem with David Geffen when he was raising them $18 million and sleeping at their invitation in the Lincoln Bedroom" of the White House.
Mr Obama refused to condemn Mr Geffen, adding that he welcomed his support and was grateful for his fundraising efforts.
"It's not clear to me why I would be apologising for someone else's remarks. My sense is that Mr Geffen may have differences with the Clintons, but that doesn't really have anything to do with our campaign," Mr Obama said.
The row over Mr Geffen overshadowed a debate in Carson City, Nevada on Wednesday, featuring all the Democratic candidates except Mr Obama.
Ms Clinton faced renewed criticism for her refusal to describe her 2002 vote on the Iraq war as a mistake.
Former senator John Edwards, who also voted to authorise the war, hinted that Ms Clinton's failure to say she is sorry raises questions about her suitability for the presidency.
"We need a leader who will be open and honest with you and with the American people. Who will tell the truth when they've made a mistake, who will take responsibility when they've made a mistake," he said.
Asked if she believed that Mr Obama should disavow Mr Geffen's comments about her, Ms Clinton avoided giving a direct answer.
"I want to run a very positive campaign, and I sure don't want Democrats or supporters of Democrats to be engaging in the politics of personal destruction," she said.
"I think we should stay focused on what we're going to do for America."
She then added, to applause: "And, you know, I believe Bill Clinton was a good president. I'm very proud of the record of his two terms."