Obama Debate Comments Set Off Firestorm

Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., left, and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., are pictured during a break at the Democratic presidential debate sponsored by CNN, YouTube and Google at The Citadel military college in Charleston, S.C., Monday, July 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) (Charles Dharapak - AP)

In March, Republican Mitt Romney told South Florida Republicans that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a persistent U.S. critic, "has tried to steal an inspiring phrase _ 'Patria o muerte, venceremos.'" But, added Romney, "It does not belong to him. It belongs to a free Cuba."

In truth, the phrase does not belong to free Cubans. It has been a trademark speech ending for Castro, their most despised opponent.

Also, prospective GOP candidate Fred Thompson drew unwelcome attention last month when he appeared to suggest that illegal Cuban immigrants posed a terrorist threat. He later said people were trying to twist his words, and that he was referring to Cuban spies, not immigrants.

Thomas Mann, of the Brookings Institution think tank, said he thought Obama's comments did show "a lack of experience" but were probably not fatal to his prospects. Furthemore, said Mann, "there is a growing group of younger Cuban-Americans and others" who want more engagement with Cuba.

Meanwhile, rival John Edwards tried to steer clear of the Clinton-Obama flap during a campaign stop in South Carolina but did say he fears a presidential-level meeting with rogue leaders could be used to denigrate the United States.

"I would not commit myself on the front end openly to meet with (Iranian President Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad, (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Il, (Venezuelan President) Hugo Chavez," Edwards told reporters in McClellanville, S.C. "I think there's a real potential that would be used as a propaganda tool."

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Associated Press writers Nedra Pickler in McClellanville, S.C., and Brendan Farrington in Tallahassee, Fla., contibuted to this report.