Ludacris loses Obama’s vote

Ludacris’ new song, “Politics as Usual,” may have cost him one of his biggest fans, Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama.

And for good reason: It points up the dilemma facing the man who could become the nation’s first black president and who wants the support of the influential hip-hop community but needs to steer clear of the controversy so commonly associated with its music.

Ludacris’ “Politics as Usual” alludes to an imminent victory for Obama by handing out major put-downs to his rivals.

Obama, usually a Ludacris fan, was quick to distance himself this week.

“While Ludacris is a talented individual, he should be ashamed of these lyrics,” Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said in an e-mail statement. He also called the song “outrageously offensive.”