Barack Obama's former pastor seems to be enjoying his five minutes of fame, but his recent remarks won't harm the Illinois senator's presidential bid, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said yesterday.

Speaking on his monthly call-in radio show on Washington's WTOP Radio, Kaine called the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr.'s speaking tour "a sideshow and a distraction" that voters ultimately will ignore in November.

"I feel like a lot of [Wright's remarks] are way off base, and I don't think it really bears that much on Senator Obama," said Kaine, a national co-chairman of Obama's campaign.

"He's going to say what he's going to say. . . . I think a lot of his remarks are completely uncalled for, and I disagree with him strongly."

Kaine said he believes voters are more interested in talking about how each candidate plans to lead the nation than about the views of Obama's pastor.

To that end, the governor again dismissed his consideration as a vice presidential candidate, saying it is unlikely. The constant speculation had only one benefit, he said.

"It makes my mom happy."

-- Jim Nolan