arack Obama apologized Wednesday to a Michigan TV reporter after he called her ''sweetie'' and dodged her question about autoworkers.
WXYZ-TV's Peggy Agar shouted a question to the Democratic presidential candidate during his appearance at a Chrysler LLC plant in this auto-making suburb of Detroit.
Agar asked Obama what is he ''going to do to help American autoworkers.''
''Hold on one second, sweetie,'' Obama replied. ''We'll do a press (availability), thanks.'' He did not reply to Agar's question.
On the air later Wednesday, the station played a voice mail message Obama left for Agar. In it, Obama apologized for not getting back to her. He also told her he has a bad habit of calling people ''sweetie.''
Obama then said: ''I mean no disrespect, so I am duly chastened on that front.''