Obama in private meeting with Christian leaders

Barack Obama has shared his position with US Christian leaders on a wide range of issues including gay rights, abortion and the Iraq war in a private meeting on Tuesday.

Among those present were Dallas megachurch leader Bishop TD Jakes and Franklin Graham, the son of renowned evangelist Billy Graham.

Bishop Jakes, who does not endorse presidential candidates, told the Associated Press that the discussion "went absolutely everywhere" and that the meeting brought together "just about every Christian stripe".

Some conservative evangelicals have kept their distance from Obama over his support for abortion rights and gay rights.

Jakes acknowledged that some of those present at the meeting clearly had concerns over some of Obama's political positions, the Associated Press reported.

Richard Cizik, vice president for governmental affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals, said that Obama had invited leaders at the meeting to share "anything that's on your mind that is of concern to you".

"I think it's important to point out this isn't a group of people who are endorsing Obama," Cizik said in an interview with AP. "People were asked for their insider wisdom and understanding of the religious community."

According to AP, he told Obama: "Religious Americans want to know why is it you love this country and what it stands for and how we can make it better."

The group of around 30 leaders discussed protection of the traditional family, same-sex marriage, gay rights, religious freedom, genocide, poverty in the US and "how we might even improve America's standing in the world", revealed Cizik.

Franklin Graham's spokesman Mark DeMoss said, meanwhile, that the evangelist had found Obama to be "impressive" and "warm", and revealed that he asked Obama whether "he thought Jesus was the way to God, or merely a way", although he declined to disclose Obama's answer.

"[Graham] feels that dialogue with someone who may be president is useful whether or not you agree with them on everything or anything," said DeMoss.

Joshua Dubois, director of faith outreach within the Obama campaign, said that the Democratic nominee and Christian leaders "discussed policy issues and came together in conversation and prayer". He added that more sessions of a similar nature would follow in the coming months.