By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

Posted March 24, 2008 – The Easter weekend allowed both Democratic candidates some down time, but there was no rest when it came to exchanging barbs and accusations about their rivals. 

On Friday Bill Clinton said: “I think it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country. And people could actually ask themselves who is right on these issues, instead of all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics.”

Clinton’s reference to “two people who loved this country” was an apparent allusion to his wife, New York Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton and Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain.   Many inferred that the former president was saying that Obama does not love his country.

An Obama supporter, retired Air Force Gen. Merrill McPeak, said the remark was reminiscent of McCarthysim, a comment that sent the Clinton campaign into a spin.

On Sunday, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who announced his endorsement for Obama on Friday, said he didn’t  believe the former president had accused Obama of being unpatriotic. “The campaign has gotten too negative – too many personal attacks, too much negativity that is not resounding with the public,” Richardson told Fox News Sunday.

Clinton supporter James Carville, obviously pissed, told The New York Times that Richardson’s endorsement of Obama was “an act of betrayal.”

“Mr. Richardson’s endorsement came right around the anniversary of the day when Judas sold out for 30 pieces of silver, so I think the timing is appropriate, if ironic,” Carville said.

The war of words is escalating. If it continues, the Dems might as well hand the election over to McCain, because alienated Democratic voters may stay home in November.