MADISON, Wis. – Barack Obama said Monday the nation has had enough of “triangulation and poll-driven politics,” a reference to the presidency of Bill Clinton, the husband of his chief Democratic rival.

Addressing a convention center rally dominated by students, Obama said that he had spoken out against going to war in Iraq in 2002, even as advisers told him it would be a mistake to challenge a popular president, George W. Bush.

Then an Illinois state lawmaker, Obama said he did so because he did not want to “enter the United States Senate already having compromised on core principles.”

“We’ve had enough of … triangulation and poll-driven politics,” he said. “That’s not what we need right now.”

Obama never mentioned Hillary Rodham Clinton by name. His reference to triangulation, however, refers to Bill Clinton’s eight years as president when some advisers urged him to make policy decisions by splitting the difference on opposing views. The practice became known as “triangulation.”

He addressed around 4,000 people at a rally, many of them students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Students paid $15 for tickets to the fundraiser while adults paid $30. Wisconsin, which holds its primary relatively late in the process on Feb. 19, hasn’t received much attention from the presidential candidates.

Illinois SEIU endorses Obama; Iowa chapter backs Edwards

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The largest union in Illinois is endorsing Barack Obama for president and pledging to help his campaign in neighboring states – except Iowa.

Although the Illinois Council of the Service Employees International Union endorsed Obama, the Iowa chapter is backing John Edwards. Under the union’s rules, that means Illinois SEIU members can’t go to Iowa and campaign for Obama.

The Illinois council, which represents about 165,000 people in Illinois and 5,000 in Indiana, says it will focus on helping Obama in other states, such as Wisconsin and Missouri.

Illinois President Tom Balanoff calls Obama “a real fighter for working families.” He also says Obama’s early opposition to the Iraq war showed the kind of judgment needed in the White House.

The national SEIU is not making an endorsement.