The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Chicago

A war of words with racial undertones marked the White House race 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 November 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 with her ex-brother-in-law.

Congressman Lewis, revered as one of the key figures in the 20th century 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 in his own statement that 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 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 behavior, 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 Republican 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.