HARRISBURG — Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton are gingerly threading their way between two of the most politically charged numbers in Pennsylvania: the state's almost 1 million licensed hunters and Philadelphia's nearly one-a-day rate of gun murders.

Gun control arouses deep emotions here. Deadly shootings have earned the state's largest city the ominous nickname: "Killadelphia." One of the strongest anti-gun control groups, the National Rifle Association, has 250,000 members in Pennsylvania, more than in any other state. This month the Pennsylvania House soundly defeated a bill to require handgun owners to report the theft or loss of their guns to police.

As the state's hotly contested April 22 primary approaches, the Democratic presidential candidates have struggled to avoid alienating either side, to the point of pandering.

Unlike most members of Congress, neither senator has taken a position on the historic case before the U.S. Supreme Court over whether the District of Columbia's ban on handguns violates the Constitution's Second Amendment.

Democrats have shied away from gun control since 2000, when they blamed presidential and congressional losses in part on their aggressive stance at the time.

Clinton that year supported far-reaching measures including a federal mandate for state-issued photo gun licenses, as well as a national registry for handgun sales. Obama repeatedly backed tougher state gun controls as an Illinois lawmaker.

Such proposals have been brushed aside in favor of vague talk about "common sense" regulation.

Their ability to duck the issue may end April 16 — the date Clinton and Obama square off in their only Pennsylvania debate. It's also the first anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre in which a gunman killed 32 people and himself. "Lie-in" demonstrations to dramatize the need for tougher laws are planned in many states, including near the debate site, Philadelphia's National Constitution Center.

So far, the Democratic candidates have carefully crafted their gun control positions to reach voters on both sides.

Obama assures people he has "no intention of taking away folks' guns," but believes in background checks for prospective gun buyers. Clinton has called for renewing the ban on assault-type weapons and allowing federal authorities to share gun-tracing information with local police.

Obama has ridiculed the Clinton's attempts to identify with the rural gun culture, joking that "she's talking like she's Annie Oakley." This, as the Illinois senator tries to overcome the furor over his remarks that embittered blue-collar voters "cling to guns and religion" because they trust no politician to relieve their economic plight.

A look at some of the presidential candidates' positions on gun control:• Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.: Voted for ban on assault-type weapons and to require background checks at gun shows. Calls for renewing the ban, which expired in 2004. Favored leaving gunmakers and dealers open to civil suits. In 2000, supported proposals for a federal requirement for state-issued photo gun licenses, as well as a national registry for handgun sales.• Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.: Voted to leave gun-makers and dealers open to suit. Also, as Illinois state lawmaker, supported ban on semiautomatic weapons and tighter state restrictions generally on firearms.• Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.: Voted against ban on assault-type weapons but in favor of requiring background checks at gun shows. Voted to shield gun-makers and dealers from civil suits. "I believe the Second Amendment ought to be preserved — which means no gun control."