Rev. Jeremiah Wright, pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ (TUCC) and former spiritual mentor of democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, speaks at the Nationals Press Club in Washington on April 28, 2008. Wright spoke on black theology and its traditions throughout American history and said that the recent media attacks on himself were really attacks on the black church. (UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch)

Obama, campaigning in North Carolina, told reporters that the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's suggestion that attacks on him are attacks on the black church are not accurate descriptions of the black church's point of view, the Winston-Salem Journal reported.

Wright's remarks at the National Press Club have damaged their relationship, Obama said.

"The person I saw yesterday was not the person I met 20 years ago," Obama said.

Obama has been a longtime member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, where Wright recently retired as pastor. Wright married Obama and his wife, Michelle, and baptized their daughters.

A few weeks ago, video clips snipped from Wright's sermons began circulating on the Internet. The clips, taken out of context, included statements like "God damn America."