Chris Dougherty: Mayor of Scranton. (NE PA.)We're optimistic. We're doing real well lately. We have a long tradition of going to church and being sportsmen. Those traditions are part of who we are.

Mayor Lucas (Sharon, PA, right on Ohio line.) He couldn't believe Sen. Obama said these things. Saying we are bitter is the furthest thing from the truth. 7 years of Bush has hurt us, but we're making great strides. Hillary understands where we are at and what needs to be done.

Mayor of Bethlehem: We need a President who will get things done and not make comments that pile on. We have lost jobs, but we're still here fighting to make our city strong. In ways, we're thriving. Despite the hard times, we're not bitter, we have faith and we need someone to fight on our side. That's Hillary, she'll roll up her sleeves and help us get there.

Mayor of Wilkes-Barre: Today is the first day of fishing season. We have strong faith and hunting and fishing bring families together. We have experienced great opportunities to improve our economy. When things are tough, we need leadership to help us get through tough times, not put us down. We are not bitter.

Mayor Harrisberg: 27th year as Mayor. born and raised in small PA town. PA only has two large cities, the rest of the state is small. We like our small town values. We embrace our religions out of faith, not out of bitterness. We don't deserve to be categorized or stereotyped like Obama did in his remarks. His remarks are negative, hurtful, condescending, show bad judgment and lack understanding. They are divisive. He made these remarks in an upscale location thousands of miles away when he thought we wouldn't be listening. This is perfect ammunition for Republicans in the fall. They will eviscerate him.

Hillary understands the people of this state, she will bring us together.

Q and A: Is there a difference between Hillary and Obama on Second Amendment rights? Bethlehem mayor: the difference is a matter of outlook. Obama's comments reflect a major misunderstanding about why people hunt and want to own a gun. It's not because we're afraid. There's a fundamental disconnect. Vilsack: Hillary has been a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights.

People don't hunt because they are bitter. They hunt because they want to share the experience with their families and want to pass it on. Agrees there's a fundamental disconnect on Obama's part.

Another Mayor: How could Obama connect guns, faith and bitterness?

Q about how these remarks compare to those of Rev. Wright. Answer: His comments in SF were revealing because he didn't know he was being recorded. Rev. Wright's remarks were not Obama's remarks. Wright's remarks went on for two decades, and Obama waited until they were brought to light to criticize them. These are his own remarks.

Mayor of Scranton: Obama just spent six days in the state and came away thinking we are bitter. We're not. Hillary has spent a lot of time here and she gets us. She hasn't forgotten her roots.

Call over.

My impression: These mayors were really upset by Obama's remarks. They took them as personal criticisms of PA residents and their traditions respecting their faith and culture regarding sports like hunting, but more importantly, as a sign that Obama just doesn't get small town America, is condescending and Republicans will hurt him over this in the fall.

It was also striking how genuine their support of Hillary seemed. They really believe that she is one of them and has not forgotten her roots, that she gets small town voters and will roll up her sleeves as they put it and go to work for them.