Is Race Slowing Obama's Momentum?

Apr. 24, 2008— -- Seeking to change the subject from her trailing Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in terms of delegates, states won and votes from party-recognized contests, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., has been asking why Obama "can't seal the deal."

And while Democratic leaders seem increasingly inclined to suggest quietly that Clinton will not be the nominee, some are also starting to express concern about Obama's weaknesses among a key Democratic group -- white working-class voters -- and what that might mean in November.

At a Phillips 66 gas station in Indianapolis today, Obama was asked why he keeps losing white working-class voters to Clinton. Obama noted that both Clinton and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., continue to paint him as an "elitist."

"It's hard for me to figure that out, given that, you know, I was raised with far fewer advantages than either of my two remaining opponents," Obama said.

Still, he pledged to work harder to remind voters of where he came from. "The dinner table would have been very familiar to anybody here in Indiana -- a lot of pot roast and potatoes and Jell-O molds," he said.

Pennsylvania exit polls showed this week that Clinton carried 54 percent of the voters earning less than $50,000 a year, and 58 percent of Democrats without college degrees.

If Obama becomes the nominee, this weakness could have an impact in November when blue-collar voters are more of a force.

"Primaries tend to attract higher income, educated voters -- general elections, somewhat less so," ABC News' Polling Director Gary Langer said.

There are many reasons for Obama's disconnect with this demographic group. Democrat Joann Bruer, an employee at Sam's Hardware in Brazil, Ind., is the kind of working-class white voter who doesn't believe Obama shares her values.

"There are things I've heard about and I just don't trust, and I've got my second thoughts on him," she said.

There are other reasons for Obama's trouble with the lunch-bucket crowd. Clinton is popular among white women and seniors. Many voters prefer Clinton because of concerns about issues or experience. Some are skeptical that Obama -- from the big city, with a cool, cerebral style -- could understand their values.