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Obama says race is no issue in election
Barack Obama, struggling to win over more white Democratic voters, said in a Sunday television interview race would not be a factor in November's election that could make him the first black US president.
- Reuters
- Published: 23:59 April 28, 2008
- Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama poses for photos as he greets diners at Country Kitchen restaurant in Indianapolis on Sunday.
- Image Credit: AP
Washington: Barack Obama, struggling to win over more white Democratic voters, said in a Sunday television interview race would not be a factor in November's election that could make him the first black US president.
"Is race still a factor in our society? Yes. I don't think anybody would deny that," Obama said on Fox News.
"Is that going to be the determining factor in a general election? No, because I'm absolutely confident that the American people - what they're looking for is somebody who can solve their problems," the Illinois senator said.
Obama and Democratic rival Hillary Clinton were focusing on Indiana, which with North Carolina will be the next big tests on May 6 toward picking a presidential nominee to face Republican John McCain in November.
Recent victories
Obama is leading Clinton in the popular vote, states won and committed delegates to the party's nominating convention in August, but her recent victories in Pennsylvania and Ohio have raised questions about his ability to win white voters.
In Pennsylvania, Clinton won white union households and white Catholics - two important Democratic blocs - by about 70 per cent to Obama's 30 per cent. About one in seven Pennsylvania voters said race was an issue and that group voted overwhelmingly against Obama.
Obama said he had won many of those same voters in other states and after a Democratic nominee was decided, they would back the party's candidate against McCain.
"I am confident that when you come to a general election, and we are having a debate about the future of this country - how are we going to lower gas prices, how are we going to deal with job losses, how are we going to focus on energy independence - that those are voters who I will be able to appeal to," he said.
"If I lose, it won't be because of race," Obama said in the interview.
"It will be because I made mistakes on the campaign trail, I wasn't communicating effectively my plans in terms of helping them in their everyday lives."
Howard Wolfson, Clinton's top campaign strategist, agreed the party will be united against the Republicans once there is a Democratic nominee. Some Democrats fear the current fight could cause a dangerous split.
"Both campaigns are absolutely committed to coming together at the conclusion of this process, coming behind whoever the nominee is, and enthusiastically supporting that person," he said.
Clinton said she regretted Obama had not agreed to a one-on-one debate without a moderator before the Indiana vote.
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