Clinton calls Cheney 'Darth Vader'

Clinton referred to Cheney as 'Darth Vader' Wednesday night.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – She has been sharply critical of Vice President Dick Cheney in the past, but Democratic Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton took it up a notch Wednesday night, calling the president's No. 2 "Darth Vader."

The New York Democrat referred to Cheney as the infamous Star Wars villain at a New York fundraiser when she described his efforts to keep Republican senators behind the Iraq war.

"Vice President Cheney came up to see the Republicans yesterday," Clinton said at the fundraiser. "You can always tell when the Republicans are getting restless, because the Vice President’s motorcade pulls into the Capitol, and Darth Vader emerges."

The crowd erupted in laughter.

"I’m not invited to their meetings and I don’t know what he says or does," she added. "But all the brave talk about bringing our troops home, and setting deadlines, and getting out by a certain date just dissipated."

The comments came during an informal talk on stage with former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and retired Gen. Wesley Clark, both supporters of Clinton.

But this isn't the first time the vice president has been likened to Darth Vader. Cheney actually made the comparison himself in an interview with CNN's John King in June of 2006.

"I suppose people sometimes look at my demeanor and say, well, he's the Darth Vader of the administration," he said then.

- CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney