[Washington, DC] The campaign for the Democratic Presidential nomination may be getting ugly... frighteningly ugly.  In the midst of a major drop in national polls, Sen. Hillary Clinton is suddenly endorsed by actress/singer/activist Barbra Streisand - a virtual kiss of death.  The Clinton camp is calling it a 'dirty trick' and points the finger at Hillary's principal rival, Sen. Barack Obama.

"Hillary is a powerful voice for change as we find our country at an important crossroads," said Streisand in a written statement on Tuesday.  "Under her leadership, our country will regain its respect within the global community."

Clinton supporters call it a ridiculous coincidence that Streisand's announcement would come only one day after the uber-powerful media queen Oprah Winfrey promised to campaign for Obama in 2008. One Clinton campaign worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, simply said that 'the gloves are coming off now.'

"There was no reason for this," said Democratic strategist Marlon Davis.  "Question her ethics, call her a 'flip-flopper', even demand financial records, she can dance around that until after the election.  But to sick 'Babs' on her is just beneath contemptible."

"For a presidential campaign, the endorsement of Barbra Streisand is akin to the President finding out that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is having sex with Jane Fonda.  You're done."

In the past weeks, promises of civility from both Obama and Clinton seemed to go by the wayside as the issues heat up and poll numbers get closer.  Clinton has, on different occasions, charged that Obama has no foreign policy experience, and accused his political action committee (PAC) of paying for support from politicians in key early nomination states. 

For Obama's part, in response to Clinton's claim that during her eight years as First Lady she was 'actively involved in issues both here and abroad', he slammed the door by suggesting that former Secretary of State Madeline Albright might be surprised to find out that Hillary was the 'face of foreign policy' during her husband's administration. 

Obama spokesman Bill Burton also said that until Sen. Clinton discloses White House records that she's been reluctant to turn over for some time now, she has no room to criticize anyone's campaign finance practices.  But Streisand... Barack Obama supporters say that he's just not capable of such tactics.

"Senator Obama had nothing to do with Barbra Streisand's endorsement of Hillary Clinton.  He didn't talk her into it," said campaign advisor Ed Senheis.  "Admittedly, it's a tough blow to take and it couldn't happen to a nicer person, but it didn't come from this organization.  To suggest it did is simply more misdirection by the Clinton Machine... more politics as usual."

Publicly, Sen. Clinton has graciously accepted Streisand's nod, gushing that she deeply appreciates her confidence.  Privately, campaign workers are scrambling to find a way to fend off the downward spiral in poll numbers they know is surely coming.