Front Page > World > Article Title/Fixture Title

Front Page > Nation/Politics

Email | Print | Subscribe

Click-2-Listen

advertisement

Related Stories

Once-secret memos question Clinton's honesty

Clinton: I'm staying in the race

Obama wins N.C.; Ind. uncertain

Clinton campaign retools delegate math

Indiana, N.C. hold key primaries

Poll: Obama still tainted by his pastor

By Stephen Dinan
May 6, 2008

Most Americans say Sen. Barack Obama has failed to distance himself from his former pastor"s incendiary remarks, the new Fox 5/The Washington Times/Rasmussen Reports poll finds.

In the poll, 66 percent said the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. hurt Mr. Obama and an overwhelming majority said Mr. Obama's repudiation of his former pastor did not rescue his presidential campaign.

Only 24 percent said Mr. Obama's denunciation made them "more likely" to support the senator's presidential campaign, compared with 27 percent who said they were "less likely" and 43 percent who said his explanation had "no impact" on their decision.

Mr. Obama had to field questions about Mr. Wright yet again yesterday morning as he made the rounds of television news programs on the eve of today's Indiana and North Carolina primaries.

The Illinois Democrat said voters will judge him separately from Mr. Wright.

"I think the American people recognize that I'm somebody who's always been about bringing people together, not dividing them," Mr. Obama said on NBC's "Today" program.

If Mr. Obama wins the Democrats' nomination over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, he may not have to endure any more attacks regarding Mr. Wright. Sen. John McCain, the Republicans' presumptive presidential nominee, says the pastor will not be a campaign issue.

"It won't. I have said that I will not discuss the issue further," the Arizona senator said, though he did say Mr. Wright's comments were "outrageous."

Click-2-Listen

Front Page > Nation/Politics