Clinton Official Slams Obama's Drug Past, Then Backpedals

Clinton campaign officials are rushing to distance themselves from comments that Obama Barack's teenage drug use could be a big problem for the Dems, AP reports. Top adviser Bill Shaheen has apologized for remarks to the Washington Post that much of Obama's past was unknown and "there are so many openings for Republican dirty tricks," including questioning if Obama may have sold drugs.

The Clinton campaign said it did not "authorize or condone" the remarks. Obama's campaign manager had slammed the comments, insisting it showed how "desperate" the Clinton campaign was becoming. He stressed that Obama has been completely candid about his use of marijuana and cocaine as a teen and that the candidate has also emphasized the lessons he learned. (More Election 2008 stories.)