The country is still dominated by white voters, espcially in the swing states necessary to win elections. The blue states don't count, remember.
How many voters of color in Ohio (Cleveland isn't enough), Missouri (St. Louis isn't enough), New Hampshire, Iowa, Nevada, Colorado and Wisconsin (Milkwaukee isn't enough)? Not to mention states we want to win like Virginia, Indiana and Arizona? Okay, Hispanics are a fast growing sector and in Florida Obama might have a shot, at best if would be a very-very close race. And those swing states above which are mainly white? That's McCain country.
You're right though to focus on race because as awful as it is, when you start running minority candidates, race becomes the predominant issue. Can a black man win nationally? So far, no way. Which party wants to risk it first? This should be a fairly easy race to win for the Dems, but if we run a black or a woman --? |
