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1996 Survey Reveals a More Liberal Barack

Aides deny Obama opposed death penalty and gun ownership

By Zach Samalin,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 31, 2008 9:27 PM CDT

(Newser) – Barack Obama's older, liberal views came to light today after Politico unearthed an old questionnaire. Twelve years ago, he apparently wrote that he opposed the death penalty and the possession of handguns—opinions he has fine-tuned since. But his camp denies the writing is Obama's. "There are several answers that didn't reflect his views then or now,” an Obama rep said.

Opponents will likely use the questionnaire to bolster claims Obama is unfit to be president, Politico reports. Clinton pounced on earlier reports about the questionnaire regarding gun control. But not everybody sees the shift negatively: "Anybody who hasn't refined their ideas over that period of time is not anybody I'm interested in," said Lois Dobry, a member of the voter's group that created the form.

Barack Obama is coming under fire over his answers to a 1996 voter's group questionnaire. Detractors claim he has changed his liberal views to appeal to a broader demographic.
Barack Obama is coming under fire over his answers to a 1996 voter's group questionnaire. Detractors claim he has changed his liberal views to appeal to a broader demographic.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Barack Obama is coming under fire over his answers to a 1996 voter's group questionnaire. Detractors claim he has changed his liberal views to appeal to a broader demographic.
Barack Obama is coming under fire over his answers to a 1996 voter's group questionnaire. Detractors claim he has changed his liberal views to appeal to a broader demographic.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Barack Obama is coming under fire over his answers to a 1996 voter's group questionnaire. Detractors claim he has changed his liberal views to appeal to a broader demographic.
Barack Obama is coming under fire over his answers to a 1996 voter's group questionnaire. Detractors claim he has changed his liberal views to appeal to a broader demographic.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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