Obama tackles race and religion at Jewish temple stop

[oberliner]

BOCA RATON, Florida (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama explained the roots of his unusual name, listed some of his Jewish friends and voiced support for Israel on Thursday during a synagogue visit designed to shore up Jewish support for his U.S. presidential bid.

Obama, an Illinois senator and the front-runner for his party's White House nomination, has battled concerns among some Jewish Americans about his views on Israel, his religion and his race.

Obama addressed those concerns during a nearly two-hour session at a Jewish temple with Democrats and Republicans in Florida, a state that will be key to winning November's general election.

"There is not a single trace of me ever being anything more than a friend of Israel and a friend of the Jewish people," Obama said, telling the crowd not to believe fliers and e-mails that suggested otherwise.

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2251828720080523