On the campaign trail, Senator Hillary Clinton and John McCain are continuing to attack Senator Barack Obama over his comments that voters in rural America had become bitter and that they cling to guns or religion as a way to explain their frustrations. On Monday, Senator Hillary Clinton spoke at the Alliance for American Manufacturing Forum in Pittsburgh.

Sen. Clinton: “He was explaining to a small group of his donors what people who live in small towns right here in Pennsylvania are like and why some of you aren’t voting for him. But instead of looking at himself, he blamed them. He said that they cling to religion and guns and dislike people who are different from them. Well, I don’t believe that. I believe that people don’t cling to religion; they value their faith. You don’t cling to guns; you enjoy hunting or collecting or sport shooting. I don’t think he really gets it, that people are looking for a president who stands up for you and not looks down on you.”

Sen. McCain described Sen. Obama’s remarks as “elitist” and said they show a “fundamental misunderstanding of the American people.” Senator Obama countered the criticism by questioning whether Clinton and McCain are actually in touch with the voters of Pennsylvania.

Sen. Obama: “You know, there’s been a lot of talk in this campaign lately over the last few days about who’s 'in touch' with the workers in Pennsylvania. Senator Clinton and Senator McCain seem to be singing from the same hymn book, saying I’m 'out of touch,' I’m an 'elitist,' because I said a lot of folks are bitter about their economic circumstances. Now, it may be that I chose my words badly. It’s not the first time and won’t be the last. But when I hear my opponents, both of whom spent decades in Washington, saying I’m out of touch, it’s time to cut through the rhetoric and look at the reality.”