CNN

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania (CNN) - John McCain attacked Barack Obama in Western Pennsylvania Tuesday over a surrogate's comments that some of the area's residents were racist, telling locals the region was "the most patriotic, most God-loving" part of the nation.

“I think you may have noticed that Senator Obama’s supporters have been saying some pretty nasty things about Western Pennsylvania lately,” he said, to loud boos from the crowd.

Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha, who supports Obama, was quoted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette saying there is "no question that western Pennsylvania is a racist area," and predicted that those attitudes could cost the Illinois senator on Election Day.

“I couldn't agree with you more than the fact that Western Pennsylvania is the most patriotic, most God-loving, most patriotic part of America, and this is a great part of the country,” McCain said Tuesday, to cheers.

“So I'll give some of Senator Obama's supporters some credit, at least they're saying these things openly instead of behind closed doors at a San Francisco fundraiser," he said, referencing Barack Obama's spring remarks about some small-town Pennsylvanians that dominated the Democratic primary season here.

"My friends, the people of Western Pennsylvania love their Second Amendment, their amendment rights, their constitutional rights and their religion because they love their country, and they love their values and they love their families and they believe in the future of this country. That's what the people of Western Pennsylvania are all about.



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