Wright's words mean nothing to voters

Barack Obama's former pastor's rhetoric has not affected voters opinions of the presidential hopeful.

Hillary Clinton -- who is battling Obama for the Democratic nomination -- and Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican nominee, both support a gas tax holiday. Obama opposes it, arguing that it would provide minimal relief to consumers and could end up benefiting the oil industry.

WASHINGTON -- A majority of U.S. voters say the controversy over Barack Obama's former pastor has not affected their opinion of the presidential hopeful, a poll indicated.

However, 44 percent of those questioned in the New York Times/CBS News poll said they thought the controversy might influence other voters if the Illinois senator is the Democratic presidential nominee this fall.

The poll also found that an overwhelming majority of voters thought candidates calling for a federal gasoline tax holiday this summer were more interested in helping their own campaigns than in helping American consumers.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. -- who is battling Obama for the Democratic nomination -- and Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican nominee, both support a gas tax holiday. Obama opposes it, arguing that it would provide minimal relief to consumers and could end up benefiting the oil industry.

The poll was conducted after Obama publicly denounced inflammatory statements by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Tuesday.

The poll surveyed 601 registered voters from Thursday night through Saturday night, and has a margin of error of 4 points for all voters and 6 points for those who said they vote in Democratic primaries or caucuses, the Times reported Sunday.