COLUMBUS, Ohio — A top adviser to Ohio Gov. John Kasich has come under fire for a statement critics say was racist and aimed at suppressing the vote of African-Americans.

The comments from Doug Preisse, the Franklin County Republican chairman, were yet another salvo in the ongoing battle between Ohio Democrats and Republicans over early voting hours. Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted last week issued a directive that excludes weekend voting, which Democrats say was politically motivated.

Preisse told the Columbus Dispatch in a story published Sunday: "I guess I really actually feel we shouldn't contort the voting process to accommodate the urban -- read African-American -- voter turnout machine."

Democrats this week said singling out a specific race was inappropriate and called on Kasich and other state Republican leaders to publicly denounce Preisse's comments.

Kasich, who is preparing to deliver a speech at next week's Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday declined The Plain Dealer's request for an interview.

"It's patently racist," said Ohio Democratic Party chairman Chris Redfern. "I'm not suggesting that Doug Preisse as a person is racist. But what he said smacks of racism and bigotry. He's not making a suggestion. He is flat out informing all of us that it is the strategy of the entire Ohio Republican Party to disenfranchise African-American voters."

Cleveland Democratic state Sen. Nina Turner also called Preisse's comments "flat-out racism."

"I can't say I am surprised. I truly believe this is a revelation of their true nature," Turner said. "The fact that an African-American is now president of the United States has caused some Republicans to lose their ever-loving minds and they can no longer contain themselves."

Preisse, who is a member of the Franklin County Board of Elections, did not return several calls from The Plain Dealer.

He issued a written statement on Tuesday to the Huffington Post after his comments were picked up by the national media.

"If my comments, either in their original form, or as repeated in other ways, have caused anyone discomfort, I regret that," Preisse said. He went on to say that he believes voting "should be easy, convenient, and un-intimidating for all voters."

He also championed the early voting and absentee rules in Ohio and said he supports a directive Husted issued last week ordering uniform early voting hours. That directive is being challenged by Democrats in Montgomery County.

"To the extent that my comment caused any distraction from these responsible, responsive actions, I regret that, as well," the statement read.

Matt Borges, executive director of the state Republican party, said Preisse thought his comments to the Dispatch were off the record. Still, Borges said Preisse is not a racist and that he was simply trying to convey that Republicans wanted a fair playing field when it comes to voting.

Extended evening and weekend early voting hours, which Democrats have raised a huge ruckus over, tend to favor Democrats.

"I've known Doug for 22 years now and he does not have a racist bone in his body," Borges said. "I know he feels bad about the way the comment was misconstrued. I very much believe he was having what he thought may have been a conversation on background with a reporter talking about some of the political ramifications."

Preisse's original comments, however, may have already done damage.

"I think underneath his statement is that partisan attempt to really suppress any segment of the community that they feel is not going to vote in their favor," said the Rev. Tony Minor, pastor at Cleveland's Victory Baptist Church and head of the African American Ministers Leadership Council, a national group that works towards greater voting access.

Minor also said he was disappointed that Kasich, who has worked hard to bridge relationships in Ohio's urban areas -- especially in Cleveland -- has remained silent on Preisse's comments.

"That is something that we have to look at, that these are the attitudes of the people closest to the governor," Minor said. "That is concerning."