Sweet Oct. 24 clips and more: Obama on defensive over gay bashing backer and taking improper donations. UPDATE. Gay minister to open gospel tour. Damage control.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H.–UPDATE–The Obama campaign just told gay activists a gay minister will open each gospel session this weekend. This to defuse brewing uproar among gay supports for having gospel tour with gay basher.

EARLIER White House hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is in Washington, on the Senate floor, voting for S2205, known as the “DREAM ACT,” designed to let some children of illegal immigrants become citizens, sponsored by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). The measure just failed 52-44 to win cloture and will not advance.

Wednesday is not shaping up as a dream day for Obama.

The Washington Post revealed that Obama’s finance department vetters failed to catch a scheme where some teen children of donors sent checks to the Obama campaign, a technique used to get around federal contribution limits. LINK

And Obama’s team has to douse a fire with gay supporters. That’s because a gospel tour starting this weekend in South Carolina is featuring Grammy Award artist Donnie McClurkin, whose homophobic comments are upseting Obama’s gay backers.

Huffington Post just posted video of McClurkin performing at the 2004 Republican Convention

LINK