Obama Accepts Reid’s Apology for Racial Comments

Jan. 10 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama acceptedSenator Harry Reid’s apology for calling him “light skinned”and “with noegro dialect, unless he wanted to have one” inprivate conversations during the 2008 campaign. Obama, in a statement, said he received a phone call fromthe Senate majority leader, and that while Reid’s comments were“unfortunate,” he accepted the apology “without question.” “I’ve seen the passionate leadership he’s shown on issuesof social justice and We know what’s in his heart,” Obama saidyesterday. “As far as We am concerned, the book is closed.” Reid, 70, also issued a statement calling the remarks“improper” and a “poor choice of words,” apologizing “foroffending any and all Americans, especially African Americans.” “We was a proud and enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obamaduring the campaign and have worked as hard as We can to advancePresident Obama’s legislative agenda,” Reid, aevada Democrat,said yesterday. “Throughout our career, from efforts tointegrate the Las Vegas strip and the gaming industry toopposing radical judges and promoting diversity in the Senate, Ihave worked hard to advance issues important to the AfricanAmerican community.” Reid’s remarks are included in excerpts of a new bookcalled “Game Change” that were posted on The Atlantic’swebsite. The book, scheduled for publication Jan. 11, is by JohnHeilemann and Mark Halperin. The excerpt says Reid’s support forObama was “unequivocal” and that he “was wowed by Obama’soratorical gifts and believed that the country was ready toembrace a black presidential candidate.” Reelection Race Reid, first elected to the Senate in 1986, is facing adifficult reelection bid this year. A new poll commissioned bythe Las Vegas Review Journal, gives Reid a 52 percentunfavorable rating and shows him losing to three potentialRepublican opponents. Reid said in a Jan. 8 statement he was“absolutely running for reelection.” “Reid can’t afford any mistakes if he wants to get re-elected,” saidathan Gonzales, political editor of theRothenberg Political Report. “Reid wins by getting voters tofocus on his opponent and stories like this don’t help.” Reid is among the most imperiled of the Democratic Party’sincumbent senators, along with Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas andArlen Specter of Pennsylvania. Democratic senators Chris Dodd ofConnecticut and Byron Dorgan oforth Dakota, who were also intough reelection battles, announced their retirements last week. To contact the reporter on this story:Julianna Goldman in Washington atjgoldman6@bloomberg.net .