Inserting Race into the Race
Up until now, the race card has been absent in the Democratic race for the Presidential nomination. Rufus Shaw, on Dallas Blog, changes that with his commentary on the New Hampshire primary. Obama wowed Shaw with his dramatic win in Iowa, hinting of a "world seriously considering the possibility of having our first Black president." Having hopes raised only to be dashed five days later, prompts Shaw now to fire a shot across the Clinton campaign's bow, warning them that any criticism of Barack Obama will alienate African-American voters. It doesn't matter that Clinton and her surrogates attacked Obama's experience in the closing days in New Hampshire, not his race.
Of course, Shaw is out of line. Shaw is playing the race card. But this is politics. It's a blood sport. Clinton must act very carefully not to give critics an opening. Obama must, too. If Obama himself even hints at what Shaw is saying, the Democrats could split, ruining their chances, no matter who wins the nomination. But it might be out of Clinton and Obama's hands. If the attitude expressed by Rufus Shaw is shared by any sizable percentage of African-Americans, a Clinton victory might inevitably trigger a split. And an Obama victory, if perceived by other Democrats as some kind of surrender to threats by African-Americans, would doom his own election chances.
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