Obama speaks of unity; chides McCain

WASHINGTON, May 9 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., says he wants to reassure voters the Democratic Party will be united in seeking to defeat Republicans in the general election.

"Obviously, people have been anxious about some of the sense of division in the party and I just wanted to assure them that whatever happens, we will be coming together," Obama said after he visited the U.S. House of Representatives chamber while it was in session.

He met privately with party leadership, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., when the two accidentally crossed paths at Democratic Party headquarters, The New York Times reported Friday. Besides the meeting, Obama spoke by phone with Pelosi, who has remained publicly neutral.

While leading in the number of primary and caucuses won and pledged delegates, Obama hasn't pressured party opponent Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., to drop out of the race, saying he considers her a formidable opponent.

Obama did criticize presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for remarks that Palestinian militant organization Hamas would favor Obama's election.

"And so for him to toss out comments like that I think is an example of him losing his bearings as he pursues this nomination," Obama said, calling the comment offensive and a smear, the Times reported.