At a rally to kick off a week-long campaign for the South Carolina primary for Democrats which was held on Saturday, Obama tried to set the record straight from an attack circulating widely on the Internet that is designed to play into prejudices against Muslims and fears of terrorism.

“I’ve been to the same church, the same Christian church, for almost 20 years,” Obama said, stressing the word Christian and drawing cheers from the faithful in reply. “I was sworn in with my hand on the family Bible. Whenever I’m in the United States Senate, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. So if you get some silly e-mail... send it back to whoever sent it and tell them this is all crazy. Educate.”

Obama is referring to a debunked chain e-mail circulating widely on the Internet that suggests he is hiding his Islamic roots and may be a terrorist in disguise. It says he was sworn into the Senate on the Quran and turns his back on the flag during the pledge.

There are some truths in the e-mail’s details. Obama’s middle name is Hussein. His father and stepfather were Muslim. And he spent part of his childhood in Indonesia, a largely Muslim country. But he attended secular and Catholic schools, not a radical madrasa.

His campaign has been pushing back against the false rumours all year. His aides decried an incorrect news report that Obama was educated in a radical Muslim madrasa and a section of his website is devoted to correct that and other false rumours circulating on the Internet.

But they are stepping up the effort now that the campaign has hit South Carolina and soon turns to other southern states where religion is so important to voters. The campaign distributed an open letter from seven Jewish senators this weekend, condemning the attacks. Aides are planning an event this week to respond directly to the e-mails, and campaign representatives blanketed South Carolina churches on Sunday with literature that touted Obama’s Christian faith.

One piece features photos of Obama praying with the words “Committed Christian” in large letters across the middle. It says Obama will be a President “guided by his Christian faith” and includes a quote from him saying: “I believe in the power of prayer.”

A second piece, which like the first doesn’t mention the Muslim rumour, includes photos of Obama with his family and a caption that says they are active members of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. It explains how as a young man Obama “felt a beckoning of the spirit and accepted Jesus Christ into his life”.

Obama says he’s going to fight harder against other mischaracterisations about his positions that he says are being perpetrated by rival Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband.

“When I see Senator Clinton, President Clinton distort my words ... that is not a way to move the debate forward, that is not a way to help the American people,” Obama said during his rally at the Columbia Convention Center. “I am not running for President just to become President. I’m running to help the American people. I’m not willing to say or do anything just to win an election.”

The Clinton campaign suggested the former President would continue pointing out what it says are inconsistencies in Obama’s record.

SUPER Tuesday

Republican race

Rudy Giuliani expanded his national lead over second-place rival Fred Thompson

Democratic race

Hillary Clinton led Barack Obama 38 per cent to 27 per cent in the new poll. John Edwards remained in third place, climbing four points to 13 per cent