Now in its fourth day, the fight between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama got more personal and their advisers got more involved.

Yesterday Obama said, "I don't want Bush-Cheney lite," after comparing Clinton's stance on meeting with dictators to that of the Bush administration. Obama painted Clinton as a divisive insider, saying that the country needs a president who can "bring this country together," but "it's not enough to just change parties." The Boston Globe's James Pindell reports Obama conceding that he has less endorsements than Clinton and said it was because, "We haven't been in Washington all that long and we haven't traded that many favors."

Clinton took to CNN after Obama's comments. "This is getting kind of silly. You know I have been called a lot of things in my life but I've never been called George Bush or Dick Cheney certain," Clinton said, adding a dig at the title line of Obama's 2004 Democratic convention speech: "You know, you have to ask: what's ever happened to the 'Politics of Hope?'"

The Politco's Ben Smith reports that Clinton adviser Howard Wolfson and Obama adviser David Axelrod continued the attacks on cable television yesterday. The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza puts it bluntly: "For anyone not paying attention, the 2008 pre-season is over."

Meanwhile Clinton is sticking to her guns on asking the Pentagon for troop withdrawal plans even after Defense Secretary Gates apologized for his undersecretary's comments about her, promised that plans are being made but can't be disclosed, reports the New York Sun's Russell Berman.

John Edwards, who gave a similar response to Clinton's on diplomacy during the debate, is staying out of the fight and sticking to his economic message. The New York Times' Lesley Wayne reports Edwards proposed raising the rate on capital gains taxes from 15 percent to 28 percent for those earning more than $250,000 annually. The profits would be to "provide tax-free savings accounts and expanded tax credits for lower-income workers."

The Des Moines Register's Kelsey Beltramea reports Sen. Chris Dodd unveiled his health care plan that would have all employers providing insurance through an marketplace based on the current health benefits system for federal workers. "Individuals and businesses would then have a choice of plans, and would contribute wages based on their ability to pay."

Also in Iowa, Bill Richardson said Iowa is in the top 10 of states under terrorist threat because of its highways and agricultural infrastructure.

On the Republican side, Rudy Giuliani will skip the Sept. 17 YouTube debate due to "scheduling conflicts."

Rival Mitt Romney told the AP he's likely deliver a speech addressing his Mormon faith.

The Nashua Telegraph's Kevin Landrigan writes that John McCain wants a more humble foreign policy, which he would bring about by closing Guantanamo Bay, committing to reducing global warming and be more willing to negotiate with foreign countries than President Bush has been, McCain said. Former New Hampshire Rep. Chuck Douglas said McCain "seems more relaxed and at ease than in the past. I think he may find the state of the campaign liberating," without the pressures of being the frontrunner.

Get these and today's other election stories at RCP's Politics and Elections page.