Poll: Obama still tainted by his pastor

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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."

In what have become well-publicized sermons, Mr. Wright, the former pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, called for God to condemn America for racism and accused the government of inflicting the black community with AIDS.

Mr. Obama, who has been a member of Mr. Wright's church since 1992, repudiated the more strident sermons, but that prompted Mr. Wright to strike back last week. At the National Press Club on April 28, Mr. Wright repeated many of his charges and said Mr. Obama was distancing himself because that's "what politicians do."

The next day Mr. Obama held a press conference to say he was "outraged" and "saddened over the spectacle."

The poll of 1,000 adults was taken April 29-30, at the end of Mr. Wright's weekend media blitz and just after Mr. Obama's press conference.

The poll also sought opinions about how Mr. McCain and Mr. Obama should consider their vice presidential picks.

Given a list of traits Mr. McCain should look for in a running mate, more Republicans — 40 percent — said he should look for a conservative. A business background was second, with 15 percent of Republicans saying that should be his top criteria, while 10 percent said he should look for someone younger and 10 percent said he should choose a moderate.

Meanwhile, 52 percent of Democrats said Mr. Obama's chances would improve if he selected Mrs. Clinton as his running mate. But even more Republicans — 57 percent — said he would be hurt by that pick. Among independents and third-party adherents the idea was also a loser, with more saying she would hurt than help.