George Allen steps on the issue of race

After his failed 2006 campaign for re-election, it would be an understatement to say that former Sen. George Allen (R) has a perception problem on the issue of race.

And now Allen -- who's back running for his old Senate seat -- has once again stepped on the issue of race.

Craig Melvin, an African-American reporter-anchor for NBC's Washington, DC affiliate, posted this message on Twitter:

For the 2nd time in 5 months, fmr. gov. and sen candidate George Allen asks me,”what position did you play?” I did not a play a sport.”

Allen later apologized:

sorry if I offended, ask people a lot if they played sports Grew up in football family found sports banter good way to connect

*** UPDATE *** Allen adviser Dan Allen (no relation) sends along this Tweet from a local NBC Richmond affiliate anchor:

@ryanobles I think it's worth pointing out that @GeorgeAllenva often asks me what position I played in sports as well.