Barack Obama Responds to Hillary Clinton's RFK Remark

Barack Obama Responds to Hillary Clinton's RFK Remark
May 24, 2008 5:42 PM
abcnews.com

ABC News' Tahman Bradley and Kate McCarthy report: Sen. Barack Obama gives Hillary Clinton the benefit of the doubt that she had no hidden meaning when she invoked the assassination of Bobby Kennedy as an explanation for remaining in the Democratic presidential race.

"I have learned that when you’re campaigning for as many months as myself and Sen. Clinton have been campaigning that, you know, sometimes you get careless in terms of the statements that you make. And I think that’s what happened here," Obama told the Puerto Rico radio station Isla Saturday.

"Sen. Clinton says that she did not intend any offense by it, and I would take her at her word on that."

Word of Clinton's remark made to the Argus Leader sparked a less gracious response yesterday by the Obama campaign. Spokesman Bill Burton said the remarks were "unfortunate." Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a Hillary Clinton supporter, issued a statement last night saying Clinton's words should not be interpreted for more than they were.

Obama spent his day campaigning in Puerto Rico where he held a rally at La Plaza del Quinto Centenario in advance of next Sunday's primary. Obama told the cheering crowd, "If we do well in Puerto Rico, there's no reason I won't be announcing I'm the Democratic nominee for president."

Obama also told the crowd he thought his campaign was "on the brink of winning the Democratic nomination.”

Barack is so much of a class act, even his response to this was calm, cool and collective.
~LT