Obama rips 'slime politics'

MARION, Iowa -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama denounced as ''slime politics'' a flap created by a column written by Chicago Sun-Times syndicated columnist Robert Novak.

In the column, in which he provided no attribution, Novak wrote that rival Hillary Clinton's campaign had decided against spreading ''scandalous'' information about Obama -- who challenged the rival campaign to either produce the information or refute it.

A Clinton spokesman said the campaign had no such information.

Obama said he took the Clinton team at its word, but insisted Sunday that he would never tolerate such tactics.

''I really value my reputation, my character and my family,'' he said. ''If you don't get on this stuff quick it starts drifting around. That's not something I'm going to accept because that's exactly the kind of politics we need to change.''

Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer responded by saying, ''It must be the silly season."

''Senator Obama knows that our campaign responded instantly with a clear denial,'' Singer said. AP