Obama criticises mocking sermon

The Rev Pfleger apologised for his sermon, given at Mr Obama's church

US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has said he is "deeply disappointed" at a supporter's sermon that mocked rival Hillary Clinton.

Rev Michael Pfleger said Mrs Clinton felt "entitled" to win because she was white and was forced to realise there was "a black man stealing my show".

Mr Obama said the sermon was "divisive, backward-looking rhetoric".

Meanwhile Mr Obama has told the BBC he expects to be his party's nominee when primary elections end next week.

Rev Pfleger has apologised for his sermon at Mr Obama's Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.

According to Associated Press news agency, Rev Pfleger said in the sermon: "[Hillary Clinton] just always thought that, 'This is mine. I'm Bill's wife. I'm white.'

These words are inconsistent with Senator Obama's life and message and I am deeply sorry if they offended Senator Clinton or anyone else who saw them Rev Michael Pfleger

"And then, out of nowhere, came 'Hey, I'm Barack Obama.' And she said, 'Oh damn, where did you come from? I'm white. I'm entitled. There's a black man stealing my show.'"

He added: "She wasn't the only one crying. There was a whole lot of white people crying."

In response, Mr Obama said in a statement: "As I have travelled this country, I've been impressed not by what divides us, but by all that unites us.

"That is why I am deeply disappointed in Father Pfleger's divisive, backward-looking rhetoric, which doesn't reflect the country I see or the desire of people across America to come together in common cause."

Rev Pfleger said the words in his sermon were "inconsistent with Senator Obama's life and message and I am deeply sorry if they offended Senator Clinton or anyone else who saw them".

Mr Obama has had other problems with a clergyman during the nomination campaign.

He denounced the claim by Rev Jeremiah Wright, who officiated at his wedding and baptised his daughters, that the 9/11 attacks were an example of "America's chickens coming home to roost".

Convention

In an interview with the BBC's Katty Kay, Mr Obama said the general election campaign - against Republican John McCain - would begin in earnest after the primaries end next week.

Barack Obama believes he will be the Democrat nominee by Tuesday

Mr Obama is ahead in delegates won and is confident he will pick up enough of the remaining delegates to clinch the nomination.

Mrs Clinton could still win, by persuading enough "super-delegates", or senior party officials, to back her.

The delegates will choose the party's nominee at a nominating convention in August and the candidate with the most delegates will win.

Some delegates are "pledged" to vote according to the results of elections - the primaries - held in their state, while others - the unelected "super-delegates" - are free to vote for whoever they like.

Only three more contests remain: the Puerto Rico primary on Sunday and the South Dakota and Montana primaries on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the doctor who has treated Mr Obama for the past two decades said he was in excellent health, with good blood pressure, low cholesterol and no signs of heart disease.

The 46-year-old has a family history of cancer and a smoking habit he has tried to break, his doctor said, but Mr Obama also jogs regularly and has no excess body fat.

Medical records released last week by Mr McCain, 71, said he was also fit to run for the presidency. He takes medicine to control his cholesterol and has been treated successfully for skin cancer.

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