A Republican contender for governor has apologized to the West Virginia NAACP and others for calling President Obama "Sambo" and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi a "bimbo."

Former Berkeley County Del. Larry Faircloth insisted Thursday he was only joking at a recent candidates' forum in Romney. He tells the Herald-Mail of Hagerstown, Maryland that he is neither a racist nor a sexist.

Faircloth is among eight Republicans in a special gubernatorial primary Saturday.

Six Democrats are also seeking their party's nomination to fill the vacancy created by former Gov. Joe Manchin's election to the U.S. Senate.

Faircloth says he was trying to bring levity to discussion about Obama's reelection bid.

He suggested Obama replace Vice President Joe Biden with Sylvester Stallone, then make his slogan, "Vote Sambo, Rambo and Bimbo."

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