Obama apologizes for calling TV reporter 'sweetie'

Compiled from staff reports

May 15, 2008

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama apologized yesterday to a television reporter for calling her "sweetie" during a campaign stop yesterday in Michigan.

According to an account on the Web site of WXYZ-TV in Detroit, Obama was touring a Chrysler plant when he tried to brush off a question from WXYZ reporter Peggy Agar, who asked the senator what would do to help autoworkers.

"Hold on one second, sweetie," Obama replied, adding he would answer her at a later media briefing.

Later, in a voice mail left on Agar's cell phone, Obama apologized for not answering her question.

"Second apology," he said, "is for using the word 'sweetie.' That's a bad habit of mine. I do it sometimes with all kinds of people. I mean no disrespect and so I am duly chastened on that front."