(CBS)
From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic: MUNCIE, IND. -- Barack Obama admitted today that he may not have expressed himself well when he said that Pennsylvania voters turn to guns and religion as a result of their frustration with government.
"Now I didn't say it as well as I should have, because the truth is that these traditions that are passed on from generation to generation, those are important. That's what sustains us," Obama said at town hall meeting at Ball State University.
Nevertheless, he continued to defend the idea that many voters are "bitter" towards government and have turned to other things for support.
"What is absolutely true is that people don't feel like they're being listened to. And so they pray and they count on each other and they count on their families. You know this in your own lives," Obama said. "What we need is a government that is actually paying attention, a government that is actually fighting for working people day in and day out, making sure that we are trying to allow them to live out the American dream. And that's what this campaign is about."
Obama appeared in the same auditorium at Ball State University where Bobby Kennedy campaigned 40 years ago. No other presidential candidate has appeared at Ball State since 1968, although Chelsea Clinton campaigned for her mother there last month.
Obama Admits Misspeaking, But Defends Comments
By Maria Gavrilovic
/ CBS News
From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:
MUNCIE, IND. -- Barack Obama admitted today that he may not have expressed himself well when he said that Pennsylvania voters turn to guns and religion as a result of their frustration with government.
"Now I didn't say it as well as I should have, because the truth is that these traditions that are passed on from generation to generation, those are important. That's what sustains us," Obama said at town hall meeting at Ball State University.
Nevertheless, he continued to defend the idea that many voters are "bitter" towards government and have turned to other things for support.
"What is absolutely true is that people don't feel like they're being listened to. And so they pray and they count on each other and they count on their families. You know this in your own lives," Obama said. "What we need is a government that is actually paying attention, a government that is actually fighting for working people day in and day out, making sure that we are trying to allow them to live out the American dream. And that's what this campaign is about."
Obama appeared in the same auditorium at Ball State University where Bobby Kennedy campaigned 40 years ago. No other presidential candidate has appeared at Ball State since 1968, although Chelsea Clinton campaigned for her mother there last month.
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