U.S. sick of 'triangulation,' Obama says

MADISON, Wis. — Barack Obama said Monday the nation has had enough of ‘‘triangulation and poll-driven politics,’’ a reference to the presidency of Bill Clinton, the husband of his chief Democratic rival.

Addressing a convention center rally dominated by students, Obama said that he had spoken out against going to war in Iraq in 2002, even as advisers told him it would be a mistake to challenge a popular president, George W. Bush.

Then an Illinois state lawmaker, Obama said he did so because he did not want to ‘‘enter the United States Senate already having compromised on core principles.’’

‘‘We’ve had enough of ... triangulation and poll-driven politics,’’ he said. ‘‘That’s not what we need right now.’’

Obama never mentioned Hillary Rodham Clinton by name. His reference to triangulation, however, refers to Bill Clinton’s eight years as president when some advisers urged him to make policy decisions by splitting the difference on opposing views. The practice became known as ‘‘triangulation.’’

The remark drew a swift response from the Clinton campaign.

‘‘Senator Obama spent the last week abandoning the politics of hope and attacking Senator Clinton. Looks like he’s begun this week by attacking her husband,’’ said campaign spokesman Mo Elleithee. ‘‘The fact is that most Americans believe that Bill Clinton was a good president who moved the country forward.’’

Obama, who entered the U.S. Senate in January 2005, promised his young supporters on Monday that he was the presidential candidate who could bring the most change to domestic and foreign policy. He said he could reform health care, end the Iraq war and ease the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.

He addressed around 4,000 people at a rally, many of them students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Students paid $15 for tickets to the fundraiser while adults paid $30.

Wisconsin, which holds its primary relatively late in the process on Feb. 19, hasn’t received much attention from the presidential candidates but that’s starting to change.

Republican Rudy Giuliani is to arrive in Milwaukee on Thursday for a fundraiser. Elleithee said Clinton was hoping to visit Wisconsin soon but had nothing planned yet.

Obama campaign aides urged young people on Monday to volunteer to canvass for Obama in Iowa, which has the first-in-the-nation caucuses.

Obama used the rally to try to draw a subtle contrast with Clinton by portraying himself as a leader for a new generation and a new kind of politics. Obama said he would stand up to special interests and take unpopular stands when necessary.

‘‘George Bush may have perfected divisive special interest politics but he didn’t invent it,’’ Obama said. ‘‘It was there before he got into office and will be there after he leaves office, unless we decide we’re going to take our government back.’’

The fundraiser was initially scheduled to be held at a theater with 1,500 seats but interest was so high that the campaign relocated the event to the much larger ballroom.

Many students wore red and white ‘‘Badgers for Obama’’ t-shirts containing an outline of the senator’s face. ‘‘Hope has a face,’’ the shirts read.

Many students said they were skipping class to be at the event. They said they liked Obama’s message of change, even if he was short on specifics.

Molly Corrigan, 18, said Obama won her support on Monday.

‘‘It was amazing,’’ said Corrigan, who skipped three classes to be at the event and carried a ‘‘Bucky 4 Obama’’ sign. ‘‘He’s a really good speaker.’’

After the public event, Obama attended a private fundraiser at the Madison home of supporters. A campaign invitation said guests were to raise at least $500.