MILFORD, NH — Hillary Clinton says not only is Barack Obama’s claim to have more foreign policy advisers from the Clinton Administration than Senator Cilnton herself not true, it’s a “silly question” to begin with — since what matters most is who’s sitting behind the desk in the Oval Office.

“This is not a campaign between lists of advisers,” she said. “This is a campaign between real people, with experience and qualifications to become president on day one.”

Clinton told reporters gathered at a local diner, “I’m holding myself out. I’m not holding myself out by leaning on advisers. I’m saying here I am, here’s what I believe, here’s what I’ve done for 35 years, Here’s how you can assess me. Because when the door closes and you’re having to make those difficult decisions that presidents confront every day, ultimately there is no adviser you can count on. You have to make the decision.”

Asked why so many Clinton advisers were supporting Obama over her, she said ” it’s a silly question. We have hundreds of people supporting me, people who were not just in my husband’s administration, but people from all over the country who have expertise, and I’m proud to have them.”

And she tore into one of the central tenets of his candidacy — that he is the only candidate with the judgment to oppose the war in Iraq from the start - saying, “he wasn’t in the congress at the time, and when he was running for the senate he said he basically agreed with George Bush’s policy and conduct of the war. And when he came to the senate he voted to support it. So I think that once you’re in a position of responsibility and you actually have to be counted by what you do and what you vote for and against, his record is the same as many of us.”

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Read the transcript of her answers after the jump

12-22 MILFORD, NH HRC MEDIA AVAIL TRANSCRIPT

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF OBAMA SAYING MORE FOPO ADVISERS?
Obviously we demonstrated that that wasn’t accurate, but really that’s not the point. 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. And that’s the case I’m making to the voters here in New Hampshire, and caucus goers in Iowa and Americans. I think I have the strength and experience to deal with whatever problems our country has to solve.

WHY ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE SUPPORTING OBAMA?
I just think it’s kind of a silly question. I mean, honestly. It’s a silly question. We have hundreds of people supporting me, people who were not just in my husband’s administration, but people from all over the country who have expertise, and I’m proud to have them.

And we have far more people who are supporting me, and that’s fine. But this is not a campaign between lists of advisers. This is a campaign between real people, with experience and qualifications to become president on day one. And, you know, Frankly, I will reach out to get advice from a broad cross section of Americans who have the expertise and experience to advise me.

But at the end of the day, the President has to make the decision. And I think I am better prepared, better qualified, better able to handle all the challenges we face than my opponents. And that’s why I’m running for president, and why I believe I’ll win the trust and votes of the American People.

BUSH ASSURED PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT HIS FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE BY SAYING HE HAS CHENEY. IS THIS A BAD IDEA FOR OBAMA?

Well you’ll have to ask him. I haven’t been going around talking about my advisers, he has. And, obviously, when he made his claim, which was easily disproved, he has opened the door to this issue.

So you’ll have to ask him what that means to him. Again, I would just emphasize that I know how hard this job is. And I know that no matter what we think might happen, we cannot predict every challenge and every crisis that will come to the attention of our president. And therefore it’s important to pick the person who can make the best decisions, who is tested and proven as a leader.

And I’m holding myself out. I’m not holding myself out by leaning on advisers. I’m saying here I am, here’s what I believe, here’s what I’ve done for 35 years, Here’s how you can assess me.

Because when the door closes and you’re having to make those difficult decisions that presidents confront every day, Ultimately there is no adviser you can count on. You have to make the decision.

WAR IN IRAQ – HE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION
Well, he wasn’t in the congress at the time, and when he was running for the senate he said he basically agreed with George Bush’s policy and conduct of the war, And when he came to the senate he voted to support it. So I think that once you’re in a position of responsibility and you actually have to be counted by what you do and what you vote for and against, his record is the same as many of us.

And therefore I think the real issue is who’s going to be in the best position to actually get our troops out quickly and responsibly.

I think from my experience during the previous administration, my service on the armed services committee, the support I believe I can engender from our military, I am in a very good position to withdraw our troops in a safe responsible way starting as soon as possible.

And that’s what I intend to do.