Pennsylvania's 'Racist' Areas

Western Pennsylvania is "racist" and won't embrace Barack Obama easily, Rep. John Murtha said today.

The Pennsylvania Democrat and Obama supporter told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial board that although he expects the Democratic senator to win Pennsylvania next month, he's going to have a tougher time convincing the older voters in the West.

"I think Obama is going to win, but I don't think it's going to be a runaway," said Murtha, a 17-term Democrat from Johnstown who represents the 12th district, which includes some areas within a 100-mile radius of Pittsburgh.

One reason, he said, is that some voters just aren't quite ready to embrace a black candidate.

"There's no question Western Pennsylvania is a racist area," said Murtha, whose district stretches from Johnstown to Washington County. "The older population is more hesitant."

Military veterans and senior citizens are two groups that have come around to throw their support behind Obama, thanks, in part, to the candidate's amazing organizational skills, Murtha said. The congressman said he sees momentum building in Obama's favor, particularly with the ailing economy.

Pennsylvania's governor, Ed Rendell, and Murtha were both huge Hillary Clinton supporters, as were many Pennsylvanians. Rendell made his own headlines earlier this year when he said there are some conservative whites in Pennsylvania "who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate."

Pennsylvania has been a swing state in every close presidential election for the past 70 years. RealClearPolitics has the state solidly in Obama's favor, 53.4 percent to John McCain's 40 percent.

McCain is campaigning in Pennsylvania tomorrow, as is Michelle Obama. Obama campaigned there over the weekend, and Hillary Clinton stumped for him there this week, as well.