Obama birth certificate OK by Arizona official

PHOENIX – Arizona's secretary of state says Hawaii's verification of President Barack Obama's birth records meets necessary requirements and that the president's name will appear on Arizona's ballot in the fall.

The inquiry gave official weight to a long-simmering political controversy generated by those who say that Obama was not born in the U.S.

The Obama administration attempted to dismiss the conflict a year ago by releasing his long-form birth certificate showing that he was born in Hawaii.

But skeptics maintained their stance and eventually Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett announced he would seek further verification, even saying he was prepared to leave Obama's name off the state's ballot in November.

Bennett said Wednesday that Hawaii has officially confirmed the information on a copy of Obama's birth certificate as accurate.