Leaked memos reveal Obama used 'character assassination tactics' against Clinton in 2008

Washington, Jan 23 (ANI): US President Barack Obama agreed to using character assassination tactics against Hillary Clinton during his 2008 presidential campaign, leaked memos have revealed.

White House memos seen by America's New Yorker magazine, revealed that Obama's key campaign slogan "Change We Can Believe In," was meant as a slur against Clinton's personality.

It was intended to highlight how she "couldn't be trusted or believed in when it comes to change".

"She's driven by political calculation not conviction, regularly backing away and shifting positions ... She embodies trench warfare vs Republicans, and is consumed with beating them rather than unifying the country and building consensus to get things done. She prides herself on working the system, not changing it," the October 2007 memo read.

Obama attacked Clinton despite a pledge to steer away from negative electioneering, The Telegraph reports.

According to the report, David Axelrod, a political adviser, wrote the memo, as Obama's nomination campaign stalled against Clinton during the height of the 2008 Democratic nomination process.

Axelrod reportedly told Obama that the only way to secure a defeat was to attack Clinton's character.

The goal was to paint Obama as the "authentic 'remedy' to what ails Washington and stands in the way of progress" and to discredit his main rival in the process.

"It may not be her fault, but Americans have deeply divided feelings about Hillary Clinton, threatening a Democratic victory in 2008 and insuring another four years of the bitter political battles that have plagued Washington for the last two decades and stymied progress," the memo said.

The common tactic in the electioneering arena, contradicted Obama's previous efforts to present himself as a political reformist who deplored negative assaults on his opponents. (ANI)