Ferraro Steps Down from Clinton Campaign

(CBS)

Geraldine Ferraro removed herself from the Hillary Clinton campaign today after remarks made over Senator Barack Obama's skin color consumed Clinton's political headlines.

"I am stepping down from your finance committee so I can speak for myself and you can continue to speak for yourself about what is at stake in this campaign," Ferraro said in a statement. "The Obama campaign is attacking me to hurt you. I won't let that happen."

Ferraro has made several comments in past days, saying it was a matter of truthtelling that Senator Obama's popularity and media coverage benefited from being a candidate of color.

Among her remarks, Ferraro said "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman of any color he would not be in this position."

Earlier today, Senator Obama called the comments "wrong-headed and ridiculous."

Up until late this afternoon, Senator Clinton's Communications Director Howard Wolfson had denied there was any need to let go of Ferraro's support, despite rejecting her comments.

"Each campaign has taken a different response when confronted with different issues," said Wolfson on a campaign conference call. "I would remind everyone of when at the start of this campaign when David Geffen made comments that many found objectionable, Seantor Obama said he disagreed with them but said there was no reason to remove him from the campaign and he remains a campaign fundraiser."

But ultimately, Ferraro showed herself the door. It is unclear at the time what sort of input the campaign had in this decision.