This is so absolutely true. I've experienced it in my own family, and it breaks my heart. I have long felt that affirmative action's time had passed. That we had finally gotten past race as an issue, but it's obvious that is incorrect. Obama's policies are not at issue (or at least not of primary importance.) Its the color of his skin. Just like cockroaches, there are many more racists out there than you see, so if 17% admit it...who knows how high it really is.

We've got our work cut out for us.

Yeah. It's race.

But the "experience" issue is all mixed up with "race" in the minds of many voters. Older voters, especially, are thinking about both things at once.

That's why I think A. Boyer is right that Biden can help. Racism isn't the only issue, and it isn't insurmountable. When you put a savvy old white guy next to Barack on the podium, a lot of these undecided, older, white voters are going to say "oh, well, I guess he can't be *that* risky," and take the plunge. For that reason, I really believe our post-convention bounce can be durable.

What I'm curious about is this: what happens in 2009? After Barack wins, will racial uneasiness dissipate, as white people get used to being led by a black guy?

Or will it remain as a nagging problem for the Democrats?

I really don't know, but I have to admit my instincts tell me the latter. The GOP has been stirring up racial resentment to divide the working class for 40 years. They're not going to abandon that strategy just because they lose one election.

But suppose that's true -- suppose they keep trying to use racial resentment to drag Obama down. I think there's a real long-term risk for the GOP in that strategy. They could box themselves into a demographic corner, and lose a whole younger generation.

Welcome to America!
What else is new!
Cheap shots will always be! I read the article.
I would be more worried by stupidity than racism!
Do any of you believe that Obama & Co. does not recognize that issues of race and racism are alive and well in America; yes, Clinton did as well.
A primary reason this is being talked about at this time is that little else remains, race is the old standby canard; i.e., as in McCain's seven kitchen table choices.
How about 75K in Denver to hear Obama's acceptance speech, ain't nothing like this before. And, some folks what to talk about race.........

The odd thing about racism is it is at its best when practiced from afar. The closer you become to the object of scorn the more exceptions you begin to make. I fear that which I do not know. There are great things ahead because of those like you, who see what can be and will not be denied - not this time. The spirit of man shall rule the soul of man.

Duh? It's race? Who wouldof thunk...??

Ummm maybe Billiary Bubba Clinton?

Bubba who is incensed that folks called him out on his racemongering?

Bubba who employed the Southern Strategy so skillfully all across American in small towns in TX and W. VA and PA and OH?

Bubba who even went on Limbaugh?

Cmon, folks..anyone who beleived it was anything other than race was just plain in denial.

Hillary has NO experience that is that much more weighty than Obama and she certainly said white working class often enough to finish strongly in the last primaries.

Oh racemongering work...it's just that in the Democratic party you can't win without the AA vote so Billary lost BIG.

The General Election is going to be tight, and before you focus to much on race, just remember that no WHITE Presidential Democratic candidate has won the majority white vote since LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act.

All of which is why Obama has an intensive ground game. He knew from the outset that in order for him to win, he had to expand the voting population. He has busily registered 100's of thousands of voters in state after state but especially in swing states.

if the Hispanics and blacks are not disenfranchised due to their massive turnout and white America votes in the 44% range for Obama he will be President.

It all depends on voter turnout.

White people do not vote for white candidates who represent the party that passed Civil Rights, despite white females being the biggest beneficiaries of affirmative action.

Working class whites decieded long time ago that they prefer their racial entitlement over prosperity which is why the GOP can get them to vote against their economic interest time after time in the South.

It's America and in America..race counts.

Most assuredly.

It certainly isn't all race. Some of the Hillary people are man-hating militants. And he really isn't that experienced, that has some legitimacy. And others are committed lefties who truly can't bare that he isn't running on left-left agenda they came to expect even though it is not an electable strategy. Also, people like McCain personally; you can't discount that, and you can't write off the Bush-Rove attack machine either: "Don't look now, but he's a traitor!"

However, when you see people toss off that eye-rolling little laugh, and utter,

"Ah jest don't trust 'im!", yeah, that's racism. Straight, no chaser.

Obama supporters used the race card to his advantage. Now they are frustrated that the same strategy isn't working in the GE.

We tell our kids (or at least WHITE people do...) that, in America, you can grow up to be anything you want-even president. Unless you are Black. The Democrats may have made it harder on themselves over the last four decades by being the Party that passed Civil Rights, Voting Rights, Head Start, AA. etc. and no, it was not perfect, but *Thank God, Buddha, The Great Spirit/s* that we took the chance and did what was morally right, if not politically easy.

The same kind of moral rectitude is needed for natural resources, global warming and alternative energy. The Dems can again stand for what is ethically and morally right...