What did he say about the white working class?!

Sen. Barack Obama is campaigning in Pennsylvania and the heartland this weekend, and looking to connect with Midwestern values voters. But is this the message that reflects small town America?

At the fund-raiser in San Francisco last Sunday, Mr. Obama outlined challenges facing his presidential candidacy in the coming primaries in Pennsylvania and Indiana, particularly persuading white working-class voters who, he said, fell through the cracks during the Bush and Clinton administrations.

“So it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations,” Mr. Obama said, according to a transcript on the Huffington Post Web site, which on Friday published the comments.

Yep, that’s a challenge to his candidacy alright. It came off to a lot of people as demeaning.

The remarks touched off a torrent of criticism from Mrs. Clinton, Mr. McCain and Republican activists and party officials, all accusing Mr. Obama of elitism and belittling the working class. Mr. Obama forcefully rejected those charges…

Charges that Obama is out of touch with the working class. And here’s how he forcefully countered:

“No, I’m in touch,” Mr. Obama said. “I know exactly what’s going on. I know what’s going on in Pennsylvania, I know what’s going on in Indiana, I know what’s going on in Illinois. People are fed up, they’re angry, they’re frustrated, they’re bitter and they want to see a change in Washington. That’s why I’m running for president of the United States of America.”

There’s a disconnect in that statement. He says we’re bitter, angry and frustrated. That’s the response to people who didn’t like his criticism of Americans about religion, immigration, trade…?

“It shows an elitism and condescension toward hard-working Americans that is nothing short of breathtaking,” said Steve Schmidt, a senior adviser to Mr. McCain. “It is hard to imagine someone running for president who is more out of touch with average Americans.”

Obama’s response to the criticism was surprisingly still a bleak view of middle-America.

“Instead of apologizing for offending small town America, Senator Obama chose to repeat and embrace the comments he made earlier this week,” said Phil Singer, a spokesman for Mrs. Clinton.

Maybe the bitterness and anger and frustration is coming from inside his campaign. Up to now, campaign talk has been contentious alright. But among the candidates themselves. Not between a candidate and the people he wants to….lead?