Michael Moore endorses Obama

As Barack Obama nervously awaits the outcome of today's Pennsylvania primary, he will be pleased to learn that he has the support of the film-maker Michael Moore, who has not only endorsed his candidature for the Democratic nomination but accused Hillary Clinton of cynically trying to inject race into the contest.

In an angry posting on his website, Moore said he had intended to stay neutral in the Democratic contest but was led to speak out after last week's debate in Philadelphia when Obama was questioned about his pastor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

Moore, who became famous for his cinematic attacks on George W Bush, including Fahrenheit 911, said he was disgusted when Clinton followed up on the moderators' line of questioning to Obama by mentioning Wright's contacts with the Nation of Islam leader, Louis Farrakhan.

The remarks, said Moore, were the final straw. "I've watched Senator Clinton and her husband play this game of appealing to the worst side of white people, but last Wednesday, when she hurled the name "Farrakhan" out of nowhere, well that's when the silly season came to an early end for me. She said the "F" word to scare white people, pure and simple."

He goes on to use even stronger language against Clinton. "Yes, Senator Clinton, that's how you sounded. Like you were nuts. Like you were a bigot stoking the fires of stupidity."

The endorsement for Obama marks a turnaround for Moore who has been critical of the Democratic frontrunner on his website. It's unclear how much weight Moore's endorsement will carry in Pennsylvania, where Clinton will need to win by more than 10 per cent to stay in the race. He is viewed with suspicion by some Democrats for supporting the third party candidacy of Ralph Nader in 2000, which cost Al Gore the presidency.