Obama blasts Clinton over support for gun rights

Pennsylvania: Democrat Barack Obama lashed out at presidential rival Hillary Rodham Clinton on Sunday, mocking her vocal support for gun rights and saying her record in the Senate and as first lady belied her stated commitment to working class voters and their concerns.

Obama told an audience, "She knows better. Shame on her. Shame on her."

The Illinois senator has spent three days on the defensive after comments he made at a San Francisco fundraiser were disclosed that suggested working class people are bitter about their economic circumstances and "cling to guns and religion" as a result.

Obama on Sunday reiterated his regret for his choice of words at the fundraiser but suggested they had been twisted and mischaracterised.

He said he had expected blowback from Republican nominee-in-waiting John McCain, but had been "a little disappointed" to be criticised by Clinton.

Then, laughing along with the union audience, Obama noted that Clinton seemed much more interested in guns since he made his comments than she had in the past.

"She is running around talking about how this is an insult to sportsmen, how she values the Second Amendment. She's talking like she's Annie Oakley," Obama said, referring to the famed female sharpshooter immortalised in the musical "Annie Get Your Gun."

He continued, "Hillary Clinton is out there like she's on the duck blind every Sunday. She's packing a six-shooter. Come on, she knows better. That's some politics being played by Hillary Clinton."

Clinton has told campaign audiences that she supports the rights of hunters. On Saturday, she reminisced about learning to shoot on family vacations in Scranton, where her father grew up.

Clinton, who is trailing Obama in the popular vote and pledged delegates, has pounded Obama since Friday, when audio from his San Francisco appearance was posted on The Huffington Post Web site.