This is how fast a controversy moves these days. Yesterday afternoon the Huffington Post reported Obama's comments about small town America from a fundraiser in San Francisco last Sunday:

And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.

Hillary Clinton jumped on the remarks faster than you can shake a stick:

Late last night at a campaign stop in Indiana, Barack Obama addressed the controversy, mentioning Clinton and McCain by name:

Of course, the Clinton and McCain campaigns have no interest in letting Obama off the hook. Both fired back with statements in response to Obama's defense last night. Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said:

"Instead of apologizing for offending small town America, Senator Obama chose to repeat and embrace the comments he made earlier this week. It's unfortunate that Senator Obama didn't say he was sorry for what he said. Americans are tired of a President who looks down on them -- they want a President who will stand up for them for a change. The Americans who live in small towns are optimistic, hardworking and resilient. They deserve a president who will respect them."

And Tucker Bounds, spokesman for McCain's campaign, issued this statement:

"Instead of apologizing to small town Americans for dismissing their values, Barack Obama arrogantly tried to spin his way out of his outrageous San Francisco remarks. Only an elitist who attributes religious faith and gun ownership to bitterness would think that tax cuts for the rich include families who make $75,000 per year. Only an elitist would say that people vote their values only out of frustration. Barack Obama thinks he knows your hopes and fears better than you do. You can't be more out of touch than that."

It appears this story has "legs" - at least for the time being.