HIllary Clinton: This campaign isn't about race or gender...

Hillary Clinton, the guest today on Meet the Press with Tim Russert, defended her campaign's character assassination campaign against Barack Obama (h/t Gary Gross). Said Mrs. Clinton (all emphases mine):

"I don't think either of us want to inject race or gender in this campaign. We are running as individuals, we are making our cases to the American people, and it's imperative that we get the record and the facts straight because people are entitled to have that information."

And still later in the same interview,

SEN. CLINTON: "Well, you know, I don't think that either of us should use gender. I don't think this campaign is about gender, and I sure hope it's not about race. It needs to be about the individuals. Each of us is running for the highest position, the most difficult job in the world."

Yet, early in Hillary's campaign,

WASHINGTON - Hillary Clinton has a not-so-secret weapon working for her as she seeks the presidency: women.

Just 12 days into her campaign, the New York senator and former first lady has made it clear that appealing to female voters will be central to her message, and not the afterthought it has been in past presidential campaigns. Already, her campaign says, young women in particular are drawn to her candidacy and the prospect of electing America's first woman president. Officials with the Clinton campaign cite anecdotal evidence from supporters and from the turnout of women at early campaign events.

So which is it, Mrs. Clinton? Is the female vote still "central to (your) message," or isn't it?

Read the entire transcript of the Russert fisking interview, here.

***UPDATE****

Check out Gary Gross’ Let Freedom Ring where he takes Hillary to task for claiming credit for the surge’s success in Iraq.