STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (AP) - Barack Obama has apologized to a Michigan TV reporter for calling her ``sweetie'' and dodging her question about autoworkers.

WXYZ-TV's Peggy Agar shouted a question to the Democratic presidential candidate during Obama's appearance Wednesday at a Chrysler LLC plant in Sterling Heights.

Agar asks Obama what he's ``going to do to help American autoworkers.''

He replies, ``Hold on one second, sweetie, we'll do a press avail, thanks'' but didn't get back to Agar.

On the air later, the station played a voice message Obama left for Agar. Obama apologizes for not getting back to her. He also tells Agar he has a bad habit of calling people ``sweetie.''

Obama then says: ``I mean no disrespect, so I am duly chastened on that front.''