They're taking another crack at it...

Today the campaign accused Obama of lifting words from Deval Patrick. The passage, which Obama used in a speech over the weekend, was a response to Clinton's claim that Obama's smooth rhetoric does not make him a better presidential candidate.

Obama: “Don’t tell me words don’t matter,” he said in his remarks. “ ‘I have a dream.’ Just words? ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.’ Just words? ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself.’ Just words? Just speeches?”

Patrick said he had encouraged Obama to use those words, which he used in a 2006 Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign in response to similar criticism from Kerry Healey.

Patrick's speech, if you're interested:

"Her dismissive point, and I hear it a lot from her staff, is all I have to offer is words. Just words. 'We holds these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal' -- just words. Just words. 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself. Just words. 'Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.' Just words. 'I have a dream' -- just words. "

Obama has responded to the criticism by saying, "I really don't think this is too big of a deal."

I've already heard the pundits compare this to the Biden debacle in 1988, when he lifted part of a speech from the leader of the British Labour Party and ended up dropping out of the race. I don't think the voters will see it that way, but I guess it depends on how much the media plays this up and whether anyone in Wisconsin really cares.

And the comments I've seen so far on the Web mostly talk about Clinton being desperate, saying things like "Made her look like a complete idiot" and "It's really sad. She apprently doesn't realize that we all have eyes and can see through her tactics. I used to respect her. Not any more."

Anyway, I'm thinking Thursday's debate is going to lose the congeniality of the last one and fall back into the tone of the South Carolina debate...