If you missed it yesterday, Clinton endorsee former Sen. Bob Kerrey said this about Barack Obama:

I like the fact that his name is Barack Hussein Obama, and that his father was a Muslim and that his paternal grandmother is a Muslim ... There's a billion people on the planet that are Muslims, and I think that experience is a big deal.

These are the kind of comments that fuel rumors that there's an "unofficial" effort by the Clinton campaign to play up Obama's ties to Islam. Who knows? Kerrey is a smart guy and, if that wasn't his intent, he should know better.

Anyway, Kerrey has addressed the charges:

Reached on the phone Sunday evening, Kerrey said that's not at all how he meant it.

"What I said was an answer to a question," Kerrey said.
...

"First, he is African American and can speak to underperforming Black youth in a way that no other candidate can. He gave a speech in Selma that was incredible, that no white person could ever give. No government program could ever do what Barack Obama can do.

"Second," Kerrey continued, "his name is Barack Hussein Obama. I know that middle name is seen as a weakness by Republicans, but I don't think it is. I think it enables him to speak to a billion Muslims around the world."

Nice backtrack there, senator.