CHICAGO, Oct 12: A war of words with racial undertones marked the White House race on Sunday after civil rights icon John Lewis accused Republican John McCain of sowing “hatred” against Barack Obama.

McCain, who has been trying to tamp down abuse of the Democratic nominee at his campaign events, reacted furiously, lashing out against Lewis, who only a few weeks ago he described as one of the Americans he most admired.

The latest political turbulence came just over three weeks before the Nov 4 election, with Obama building a steady lead over McCain on the national level, and on the state-by-state electoral map.

It also overshadowed another controversy, the legislative probe finding in Alaska that state governor and Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin had abused her power in a feud involving her ex-brother-in-law.

Congressman Lewis, revered as one of the key figures in the US civil rights movement, ignited a political firestorm by issuing a statement about McCain’s recent searing character attacks on Obama.

“As public figures with the power to influence and persuade, Senator McCain and Governor Palin are playing with fire, and if they are not careful, that fire will consume us all,” Lewis said.

Republicans “are sowing the seeds of hatred and division, and there is no need for this hostility in our political discourse.” He also appeared to suggest attacks on Obama were reminiscent of late segregationist Alabama governor and presidential candidate George Wallace, whose rhetoric in 1963 was blamed for a church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, that killed four little girls.McCain said Lewis had launched a “character attack against Governor Sarah Palin and me that is shocking and beyond the pale.” He said Lewis’ apparent reference to Wallace was “unacceptable and has no place in this campaign.” McCain also called on Obama “to immediately and personally repudiate these outrageous and divisive comments.” Later, Lewis issued a second statement in an apparent attempt to defuse the row, saying he had not meant to draw a link between Wallace and McCain.

“My statement was a reminder to all Americans that toxic language can lead to destructive behaviour. I am glad that Senator McCain has taken some steps to correct divisive speech at his rallies,” he said.

Chants of “terrorist” and “kill him” were reportedly heard at recent McCain events and some commentators blamed hard-hitting negative advertisements which claimed Obama consorted with a domestic “terrorist” — 1960s radical William Ayers.

On Friday, McCain was forced to intervene twice at a town hall meeting in Minnesota after one voter described Obama as “an Arab” and another said he was “scared” of the Democratic nominee.

The race flap, as well as the financial crisis, dominated the Sunday talk shows.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, on CBS television’s “Face the Nation,” said: “The idea that John McCain and Sarah Palin are conducting themselves like George Wallace is just incredibly offensive.” He added: “We are not going to take this. We are going to challenge Senator Obama’s record versus his rhetoric.” Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said that the Illinois senator did not believe in the comparison between McCain and Wallace. But he said Lewis “was right to condemn some of the hateful rhetoric that John McCain himself personally rebuked.” Palin earlier denied wrongdoing after a probe found she had abused voters’ trust as Alaska governor.

The legislative investigation found Palin had violated ethics rules by letting husband Todd pressure senior officials for the firing of her ex-brother-in-law, a state trooper.

Asked in Pennsylvania if the charges were true, Palin replied: “No, and if you read the report you will see that there was nothing unlawful or unethical about it. You have to read the report.” The report said that Palin had “the authority and power to require Mr Palin to cease contacting subordinates, but she failed to act.” McCain campaign manager Rick Davis tried to draw a line under the furor, saying on Fox News Sunday: “It was a great public circus (but) the bottom line is that this thing now drops dead.” But with Obama gaining in the polls, The New York Times reported on Sunday that Republican leaders were worried McCain was heading for defeat unless he brought stability to his campaign and settled on a clear message.

“You’re starting to feel real frustration because we are running out of time. Our message, the campaign’s message, isn’t connecting,” Saul Anuzis, the Republican chairman in Michigan, was quoted by the paper as saying.—AFP