BBC: Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has said remarks about "bitter" working-class people "clinging to guns or religion" were ill-chosen.
After a storm of criticism from his rivals, Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain, Mr Obama said he "didn't say it as well as I should have".
He made the contentious remarks at a fundraiser in San Francisco on Sunday.
The Illinois senator is ahead of Mrs Clinton in terms of delegates won in the Democratic primaries so far.
Mrs Clinton is hoping to reduce his lead when Pennsylvania holds its key primary election on 22 April.
However, the majority of polls published last week suggested Mrs Clinton's lead in the state had narrowed to the low single digits.
'Out of touch'
Mr Obama was accused of taking a condescending view of small-town voters after he was filmed at the private fundraising gathering last weekend, during which he said he understood why residents of some hard-pressed communities grew angry.
"You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them," he said.
"And it's not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations," he added. Obama Rues “Bitter” Voter Remark >>> | April 12, 2008
THE SUNDAY TIMES:
Barack Obama 'Belittles' Small Town America: Obama, the “arrogant elitist, with little feeling for ordinary voters”? By Tim Shipman in Washington | April 13, 2008
‘Terrorist’ link puts Barack Obama under fire: Another dubious contact is dogging the Democrat hopeful | April 13, 2008
SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL:
Obama’s Mask Slips >>> By William Kristol | April 14, 2008
SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL:
Blue-Collar Distrust of Obama in the Rust Belt >>> By Cordula Meyer in Reading, Pennsylvania | April 14, 2008
REUTERS:
Obama Defends "Bitter" Remarks as McCain Attacks >>> | April 14, 2008
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback - UK)
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