He’s a prominent African-American and a leading political figure in the U.S. and he has an opinion on Rev. Jeremiah Wright. He is NOT Barack Obama. He’s the mayor of Philadelphia.

And, what Mayor Michael Nutter is saying is sweat music to Hillary Clinton’s ears–whom he supports for President–and potential trouble for Barack Obama who is trailing Clinton still in Pennsylvania polls.

He told ABC News tonight that if he attended Wright’s Chicago church, as Obama has for some 20 years, he would have left because of the anti-American and oft-times racist sermons Wright delivered.

“I think there’s no room for hate, and I could not sit and tolerate that kind of language, and especially over a very long period of time,” the mayor told ABC.

Obama: Clinton Can Stay!

Despite the growing chorus of high ranking Democrats calling upon Hillary Clinton to quit the race, Obama today said that she can stay in the contest as long as she would like.   Big of him!

According to Reuters, Obama said, “My attitude is that Senator Clinton can run as long as she wants. Her name is on the ballot (in Penn) and she is a fierce and formidable competitor.”

He also rejected the view that the Democratic party is being badly split because of the contest between himself and Clinton.  It is “somewhat overstated,” he says.