CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama's West Virginia campaign headquarters' grand opening was overshadowed Saturday by controversial comments made by the junior senator from Illinois a week earlier.

Barack Obama was heard telling a group of wealthy donors in California that he thought some of the blue collar voters he met were 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," Obama said.

Saturday, Mr. Obama tried to downplay the controversy, saying the comments could have been phrased better.

Clinton, campaigning in Indianapolis, called the remarks "elitist and out of touch."

The former first lady is eager to hold on to her working class support in upcoming primary states like Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky.

Asked about the controversy at Senator Obama's campaign headquarters in Charleston, Senator Jay Rockefeller had no comment.

"No," Senator Rockefeller said. "Because I don't know about it. I didn't see any of it on television, and I didn't read the newspaper, because I've been busy."

Other elected officials in West Virginia are commenting. Two small-town mayors, both Hillary Clinton supporters, released statements through the Clinton campaign Saturday.

Mayor Jean Ford of Williamstown said, "I'm disappointed by Obama's offensive comments. If he came to Williamstown, he would find hardworking people doing everything they can to make a better life for their families, despite a slowing economy, a difficult war, and a broken health care system."

In Hinton, Mayor Cleo Matthews also released a statement. "The people in Hinton and small towns across America are working hard to get ahead," Matthews said. "We need a president who will help us revitalize our communities."