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Daring to Touch the Third Rail
Many voters question whether Barack Obama is ready to be put on that pedestal—and not just because of his dirty socks. "I don't see how Senator Obama has been up there [in Washington] long enough, as far as the array of contacts and experience he would need to be president," says David Mack, a representative in the South Carolina State Legislature who is a Clinton supporter. As an African-American, Mack acknowledges that "there's an element of racial pride associated with what he's doing." And as a result, "a lot of blacks are still torn. That's why there's still such a large block of undecided black voters."
Wooing those undecideds is a significant part of Michelle's job, especially in South Carolina, where some 10 percent of voters have told pollsters they haven't yet picked a candidate. "She has family there and roots there," says the Obama campaign aide. She plays well to Southern women, as the campaign discovered last May when she spoke at a Women's Day luncheon at Brookland Baptist Church in Columbia, S.C. "It became very clear to me then that women felt a connection to Michelle down there," the aide says. Evelyn Green, 53, of Norcross, Ga., who is African-American and will vote for Obama on Super Tuesday, Feb. 5, says, "I see Michelle and I think Barack has to be president, because I want her and those two girls in the White House." To that point, the candidate's wife says, "The most important message we can send out is to show that we are a solid family with love and respect for one another. So many times you don't see that in the African-American community." By talking openly about such issues, Michelle Obama may well help that solid family move to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
With Richard Wolffe, Sarah Kliff and Chris Dixon
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: fan_chor-cheung @ 05/11/2008 10:28:19 AM
Comment: Obama and Black supportors reminisced wrestlers whose matches are pre-arranged and play by hitting under the belt theatric causing economic downturn just to win. So, stop watching American games. Obama's white supportors are insulting their own race as incompetent and incapable to manage their own country . Whether Obama will be elected his "super delegates", who endorsed at other's expense, must be sentenced to live in Black neighborhoods for more than four years to find out what they are really like. The democratic governor of Oklahoma who had just endorsed Obama must be executed for causing their tornadoes. The communication media of the U. S. are circus clowns not worth commenting on because they have not given honest election comments. Hillary Clinton, best candidate in history, can be identified as a unspoiling mother who has wasted her own $10 mllion just to warn her stubborn and ignorance daughter not to date strangers in the street. American voters in general are "blind" to good judgement. Call your mother! or grandmother! Happy Mother Day!
Posted By: concerned about immediate future @ 02/14/2008 7:38:40 PM
Comment: I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT MICHELLE OBAMMA HAS BEEN COMPARED TO THE LATE MRS ONASIS, WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO. THAT IS AN INSULT TO MRS. ONASIS, MRS ONASIS HAD MUCH MORE GRACE , POISE AND INTELLECT , NO COMPARISOM WHAT SO EVER, I AM SHOCKED.MRS OBAMA HAS NO GRACE POISE OR FOR THAT MATTER HER INTELLECT IS NOT EQUAL TO THE LATE MRS. ONASIS, NOT TO MENTION IT SHOWS THE LACK OF HER OWN INDIVIDUALITY THAT SHE WOULD PRACTICALLY " PLAGERIZE" THE FORMER FIRST LADY!! THANK YOU THE UNSILENT MAJORITY
Posted By: Change is a verb not a platform @ 01/27/2008 9:57:31 PM
Comment: Did you know it is much more difficult for a white to get into an IVY league school then a minority. Seems both Obama and his wife benefited from this fact. Not only the acceptance rate but the amount of available grants and scholarships is higher for minorities. When will tat be equalized? They aren't crying racism when it helps!