Edwards camp: Bill Clinton seeks to lower expectations

Advisers to former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) said Saturday that former President Bill Clinton is trying to lower expectations for his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) in the critical early contest in Iowa.

{mosads}On a conference call with reporters, deputy campaign manager Jonathan Prince and senior adviser Joe Trippi were asked to respond to President Clinton’s assertion, in an interview with Charlie Rose, that it would be a “miracle” if his wife wins Iowa because Edwards has spent so much time there in past years.

Prince dispelled that notion, saying that President Clinton is only trying to lower expectations in a state where Sen. Clinton continues to be locked in a close race with Edwards and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). Prince said Clinton has invested “significantly more than we have” in Iowa.

“Everyone needs to do well here,” Prince said. “You know that. We know that.”

Trippi added, “with all due respect to President Clinton, it really doesn’t matter what he thinks about the order of finishing.”