30% in US Admit to Being Racist

Once-pivotal region misses the boat

(NEWSER) - Remember when the only winning Democrats were Southerners? Dixie’s desertion of the Democrats made Republicans the dominant party, and only when Democrats stole back part of the pivotal region could they win. Well, writes Adam Nossiter in the New York Times, the South is pivotal no longer. While running up his big total nationwide, Barack Obama actually lost ground in the white South, most likely because of race. More»

McCain's scrupulous eschewing of racial issue hasn't halted accusations

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama's campaign has been unjustly accusing John McCain of appealing to racial prejudice, Charles Krauthammer argues in the Washington Post. McCain is taking the flak for what a few "agitated yahoos" shout at his rallies, he writes—a guilt by association that Obama seems to have escaped despite his ties to controversial figures such as the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. More»

(NEWSER) - Nearly half (47%) of Americans are worried that John McCain, if elected, would not finish his first term in good health, a CNN poll shows. Nearly 20% percent of respondents thought the same about rival Barack Obama. Only 7% of those questioned said that the health of a candidate would be the defining factor in their vote, while 24% said they would seriously consider it. More»

Some call it an error; others think it's best not to run candidate ragged

(NEWSER) - John McCain has held only one public weekend event since becoming the presumptive nominee in February, Politico reports. The downtime—used to rest, meet privately with donors, and bone up on policy—is frustrating to those who think the Republican hasn't done enough to take advantage of his early victory. Advisers rebut that during most of that stretch, the Democratic primary was robbing all the headlines anyway. More»

Voters worry about age more than race or gender, survey finds

(NEWSER) - GOP contender John McCain would lose to either Democratic candidate if the match-up were held today, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Adults nationwide would choose Barack Obama over McCain by 12 percentage points; Hillary Clinton would beat the Republican by six points. Though McCain has eight months to gain ground, he appears to be a hard sell to many independent and moderate voters. More»