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Robed Obama picture ignites row Robed Obama picture ignites row
(about 1 hour later)
US Democratic front-runners Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have traded accusations over a photo of Mr Obama circulating on the internet.US Democratic front-runners Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have traded accusations over a photo of Mr Obama circulating on the internet.
The picture, sent to the Drudge Report website, shows Mr Obama wearing traditional African dress during a visit to Kenya in 2006.The picture, sent to the Drudge Report website, shows Mr Obama wearing traditional African dress during a visit to Kenya in 2006.
The Obama camp says it was circulated by Mrs Clinton's staff as a smear. Mrs Clinton's team strongly denies this.The Obama camp says it was circulated by Mrs Clinton's staff as a smear. Mrs Clinton's team strongly denies this.
The row comes as the rivals campaign for two crucial primaries next week.The row comes as the rivals campaign for two crucial primaries next week.
Analysts say Mrs Clinton needs to win the contests, in Texas and Ohio, to remain in the race to choose the Democratic candidate for November's presidential election.Analysts say Mrs Clinton needs to win the contests, in Texas and Ohio, to remain in the race to choose the Democratic candidate for November's presidential election.
'Fear-mongering''Fear-mongering'
The photograph shows Mr Obama wearing a white turban and a white robe presented to him by elders in north-eastern Kenya. The photograph shows Mr Obama - whose father came from Kenya - wearing a white turban and a white robe presented to him by elders in the north-east of the country.
According to the Drudge Report, which published the photograph on Monday, it was circulated by "Clinton staffers". Her campaign has engaged in the most shameful, offensive fear-mongering we've seen from either party in this election David Plouffe, Obama campaign chief, accusing the Clinton camp According to the Drudge Report, which published the photograph on Monday, it was circulated by "Clinton staffers".
Mr Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe accused Mrs Clinton's aides of "the most shameful, offensive fear-mongering we've seen from either party in this election". Some Clinton aides have tried in the past to suggest to Democrats that Barak Obama's background might be off-putting to mainstream voters.
A campaign volunteer was sacked last year after circulating an email suggesting, falsely, that Mr Obama was a Muslim.
But the BBC Justin Webb in Ohio says the photograph - coming at this pivotal moment in the campaign - is being seen by the Obama team as particularly offensive.
His campaign manager, David Plouffe, accused Mrs Clinton's aides of "the most shameful, offensive fear-mongering we've seen from either party in this election".
The accusation was dismissed by Mrs Clinton's campaign manager Maggie Williams.The accusation was dismissed by Mrs Clinton's campaign manager Maggie Williams.
"If Barack Obama's campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed," she said."If Barack Obama's campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed," she said.
"Hillary Clinton has worn the traditional clothing of countries she has visited and had those photos published widely.""Hillary Clinton has worn the traditional clothing of countries she has visited and had those photos published widely."
Mrs Williams did not address the question of whether staffers circulated the photo.Mrs Williams did not address the question of whether staffers circulated the photo.