Gov. Linda Lingle is telling Colorado voters not to become enamored of Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic candidate for president, because of his comments about his Hawaii roots.

Hawaii's GOP governor, who was in Colorado yesterday campaigning for Sen. John McCain, the Republican candidate for president, was asked about Obama's recent comments in Colorado: “;I'm somebody from the West. Hawaii is about as far west as you can get.”;

Lingle, according to the newspaper Fort Collins Now, called Obama's comment “;a stretch.”;

“;Hawaii is a different part of America,”; Lingle said.

Obama never voted in Hawaii, never owned a business, but spent some time in school in the state, Lingle told the newspaper.

Hawaii Democrats called Lingle's comments “;alarming, harsh and personal.”;

“;So Gov. Lingle thinks Barack Obama is being disingenuous in claiming Hawaii as one of his home states. Sorry, governor, the claim happens to be true,”; said U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono.

“;Hawaii shaped the life of Obama, and our nation will be better for it,”; Hirono, a Democrat, said.

Lingle told the Fort Collins Now, “;We're a very small state; we take a lot of pride in anyone who has been in Hawaii any length of time and goes on to the national (stage).”;

Lingle added that former University of Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan was famous even before being drafted by the Washington Redskins. “;But Colt Brennan is not someone running for president of the United States.”;