Nearly half of white voters think Democratic Sen. Barack Obama’s chance of winning the presidency is hurt by the racially incendiary comments of his longtime pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., a poll showed yesterday.
The question divides voters along racial lines, but 44 percent of all voters say Mr. Wright impedes the run by Mr. Obama, according to the Fox 5/The Washington Times/Rasmussen Reports poll.
Among white voters, 49 percent think Mr. Obama is damaged by his former pastor, who has retired, and 23 percent of black voters agree. The opposite view is held by 55 percent of blacks and 29 percent of whites.
Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, said the flap over Mr. Wright likely will not derail Mr. Obama, of Illinois, in the primary race against Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, New York Democrat.
“I don’t think it helps him, but I don’t think it hurts him that much,” he said. “But it very well could have a lasting impact in the general election.”
The Wright question also split voters along party lines, with 65 percent of Republicans saying it hurts Mr. Obama and 47 percent of Democrats saying it does not hurt him. About 19 percent of both parties were not sure of the impact.
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