MILFORD, N.H. - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton hit back Saturday afternoon against Senator Barack Obama's contention that he had more support than she did from foreign policy advisers from Bill Clinton's administration.

Speaking to reporters at a diner here, Mrs. Clinton pointed to a list of 80 former Clinton advisers who support her and said Mr. Obama's statement "wasn't accurate." She said it was "silly" of Mr. Obama to raise the question of why former Clinton aides such as Anthony Lake, Mr. Clinton's first national security adviser, were supporting him.

"You can have lists of people who are advising you, but what matters is who's sitting behind the desk in the Oval Office and who's ready to be president on Day One," Mrs. Clinton told reporters at a diner in Milford, N.H.

"I haven't been going around talking about my advisers - he has," she added. "It's important to pick the person who can make the best decisions, who is tested and who is a leader. I'm holding myself out - I'm not holding myself out by leaning on advisers."

By Patrick Healy, The New York Times, December 22, 2007