The North Carolina branch of the NAACP said Friday a Republican advertisement that includes a clip of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's former pastor is racially divisive.

NAACP leaders blasted the North Carolina GOP for producing an ad that shows footage of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's fiery comments about the U.S. The group said the ad takes Wright's words out of context in an effort to smear the black community and "prophetic ministers." "It's a fundamentally race-baiting ad," said Rev. William Barber, state NAACP President. "And it inserts racist sentiments."

The sound bite shows Wright proclaiming from the pulpit "God damn America" for its racism and treatment of minorities. Obama has denounced the remarks. The ad was posted online Wednesday. State Republican Party officials still plan to begin airing the ad on television Monday despite the objections of high-ranking Republicans, including likely GOP presidential candidate John McCain.

The ad claims to target two Democratic gubernatorial candidates who endorsed Obama, though the ad overwhelmingly focuses on the presidential candidate. Two television stations in Raleigh and Charlotte have vowed not to air the piece, calling it inflammatory.