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Obama's Race a Plus, for White Voters

Yet black voters prefer Hillary by almost 10 points, suspicious of his white appeal

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 10, 2007 5:06 PM CST

(Newser) – Obama’s skin color is helping, not hurting, his drive to win white votes, says the Wall Street Journal. Whites see him as proof of racial progress, the Journal claims—a post-Civil Rights politician who inspires in part by ducking racial issues. “Obama is running an emancipating campaign,” one Democrat said. “He is emancipating white voters to vote for a black candidate.”

But the Journal admits that Obama is a "wild card"—who, like Tennessee senate hopeful Harold Ford Jr., may gain white praise while running but end up impeded by race on election day. And blacks, who favor Hillary by almost 10 points, are skeptical of Obama for appealing to white voters. “Obama doesn't really push people to consider what diversity really is,” said one black professor. “He is close enough to what is a tolerated white norm.”

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., talks to supporters during a town hall meeting with local residents, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007, in Fairfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) (Associated Press)

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at a the Farmer's Union summit in Des Moines, Iowa, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Associated Press)

Democratic Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks during a town hall meeting with local residents, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007, in Ottumwa, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) (Associated Press)

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Obama's Race a Plus, for White Voters

Yet black voters prefer Hillary by almost 10 points, suspicious of his white appeal

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Already a historic prez, Obama can be great

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Run is confirmation of slow change since Civil Rights Act

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In the fact of Barack's campaign, some already see a victory

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Obama's 2008 effort gives party an edge in 2010 Senate races

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He's losing good people for hard-to-fill administration spots

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Obama's Race a Plus, for White Voters

Yet black voters prefer Hillary by almost 10 points, suspicious of his white appeal

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • race relations • Obama 2008 • Election 2008

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

The Civil War Ended Last Night; Time for Reconstruction

Already a historic prez, Obama can be great

An Obama Win Would Belong to LBJ

Run is confirmation of slow change since Civil Rights Act

Obama Success Rewrites the Rules on Race

In the fact of Barack's campaign, some already see a victory

Democrats Lead the Way in Voter Registration

Obama's 2008 effort gives party an edge in 2010 Senate races

Obama's Lobbyist Ban Haunting Him

He's losing good people for hard-to-fill administration spots

About Us

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Newser By Users

Community

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More News

What is Newser?