"Issues will decide vote, says Obama
7 hours ago
Barack Obama said issues, not race, will decide the US presidential election after a top fundraiser for his rival Hillary Clinton stepped down after putting some of Mr Obama's success down to him being a black man.

Mr Obama called the comments by Geraldine Ferraro, who was the first woman to run as a candidate for vice president in 1984, "ridiculous".

The apparent end of the row, for now at least, came as the three main candidates for president cast key votes on America's budget.

The largely symbolic Senate votes saw both Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton win in their battle against extending President George Bush's tax cuts for middle and higher-income taxpayers, investors and people inheriting businesses and big estates.

Republican presidential nominee-to-be John McCain supported the extension.
Talking about the race issue, Mr Obama told reporters: "We keep on thinking we've dispelled this. And it keeps on getting raised once again."

He said some voters might favour either him or Mrs Clinton because of race or gender, but added: "The overwhelming majority of Americans are going to make these decisions based on who they think will be the best president.

"I have absolute confidence that if I'm doing my job, if I'm delivering my message, then there are very few voters out there that I can't win. If I'm not winning them over, then it's my fault.""