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From Times Online
April 14, 2008
Barack Obama turns to damage limitation after polls beating
Tim Reid in Pittsburgh
Barack Obama sought to turn the tables on Hillary Clinton today over his controversial remarks that small town Americans "cling" to guns and religion, amid signs that the issue has damaged him.
In separate appearances before an audience of steelworkers in Pittsburgh, a week before Pennsylvania's primary, the Democratic rivals attacked each other aggressively, with one new poll showing Mrs Clinton opening up a formidable 20-point lead in the Keystone State.
The American Research Group survey comes after a string of polls last week showed him pulling to within five points of Mrs Clinton in Pennsylvania. Yesterday's poll, taken since the "guns and religion" controversy erupted, puts Mrs Clinton ahead 57 per cent to 37, and leading among white voters 64 points to 29.
The ARG polls can be unreliable and another survey, by Temple University in Philadelphia, gave Mrs Clinton a nine-point lead.
Last week Mr Obama, at a fundraiser in San Francisco, tried to explain why he has trouble attracting white, working class voters, a large voting bloc in Pennsylvania. He said that frustrated with their economic plight, "it's not surprising 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."
Mrs Clinton has spent the past three days calling Mr Obama "elitist" and "out of touch", and told the steelworkers audience that his remarks were "offensive". John McCain, in Washington, echoed that criticism. She has argued that such remarks could doom Mr Obama in a general election against Mr McCain and believes it has given her a genuine chance to reshape the Democratic race.
Speaking to the steelworkers, Mr Obama accused Mrs Clinton of being a dishonest panderer.
He conceded that the words he used in his "bitter" remarks were badly chosen, then rounded on his rival, questioning her opposition to free trade agreements fiercely opposed by his union audience.
"Around election time, the candidates can't do enough for you. They'll promise you anything, give you a long list of proposals and even come around, with TV crews in tow, to throw back a shot and a beer," Mr Obama said to loud laughter. Mrs Clinton did just that in an Indiana bar on Saturday.
Turning to the North American Free Trade Agreement, passed by her husband and which Mrs Clinton backed in 1993, but now opposes, Mr Obama said: "You can't spend the better part of two decades campaigning for NAFTA...and then come here to Pennsylvania, and tell the steelworkers you've been with them all along."
At a union hall in Pennsylvania on Sunday night, Mr Obama said Mrs Clinton seemed a lot more interested in guns and hunting since he made his controversial remarks. "She is running around talking about how this is an insult to sportsmen ... she is talking like she is Annie Oakley," Mr Obama said, mockingly comparing her to a legendary American sharpshooter.
James Bitonti, a retired steelworker, said Mr Obama's remarks "are going to hurt him big time." Yet most steelworkers spoken to by The Times said it was merely an irrelevant distraction. Indeed, in a part of Pennsylvannia and before an audience that should favour Mrs Clinton, Mr Obama's speech was far more warmly received.