A long-serving congressional lawmaker for Western Pennsylvania, John Murtha, said in an interview with The Pittsburgh Post Gazette that though his home base is a racist area, Obama should win by about 4 percentage points. Noting the small estimated victory margin, the Democratic representative said: “I think Obama is going to win, but I don’t think it’s going to be a runaway. I think he wins Pennsylvania.”

In another interview posted Wednesday on the website of Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Murtha said Obama has a problem with the racial attitudes of the voters in western Pennsylvania, and that could trim his winning margin in the presidential election November 4.

The working-class region is a key battleground in Pennsylvania. The area is struggling economically, and has a high percentage of veterans and elderly voters. Murtha told the Tribune-Review that he sees no enthusiasm for either candidate in his district outside Pittsburgh. He said: “The public is confused, they’re despondent, they’re unhappy. They want to see a change and I think the change is whatever the individual might believe it is.”

Murtha, whose district stretches from Johnstown to Washington County, said it has taken time for many Pennsylvania voters to come around and accept the idea of a black presidential candidate. He added:

“There’s no question Western Pennsylvania is a racist area. The older population is more hesitant.” But of late, he said veterans and senior citizens have decided to back Obama.

Talking to Post-Gazette, Murtha said Republican John McCain has been stymied by the economy and the attacks on Obama’s character.

Later, in a statement, Murtha spokesman, Matt Mazonkey, told The Associated Press: “It’s naive to think that race or gender doesn’t play a role in a voter’s perception of a candidate. Mr. Murtha makes the point that while race may be an issue for some, it’s evident that voters today are concerned about the issues that truly matter - issues like the economy, health care, and energy independence.”