Obama seeks to quell pastor controversy in speech

PHILADELPHIA, March 18 (Reuters) - U.S. presidential
candidate Barack Obama will seek to quell a controversy over
inflammatory rhetoric by his former pastor in a speech on
Tuesday on the issue of race.

Flare-ups over race have roiled the campaign trail as
Obama, who would become the first black U.S. president, battles
for the Democratic nomination with fellow Sen. Hillary Clinton,
who would be the first woman president.