Voter Attitudes On Race Eyed In Key States

Interviews With Pa. Voters Show Racism Could Pose Challenge For Obama

(AP)  Joyce Susick is the type of voter who might carry Barack Obama to the White House - or keep him out. A registered Democrat in a highly competitive state, she is eager to replace George W. Bush, whom she ranks among the worst presidents ever.

There's just one problem.

"I don't think our country is ready for a black president," Susick, who is white, said in an interview in the paint store where she works. "A black man is never going to win Pennsylvania."

Susick said her personal objection to Obama is his inexperience, not his color. "It has nothing to do with race," she said.

If Susick is right about Pennsylvania voters, it presents a major hurdle for the presumed Democratic nominee. Democrats have carried Pennsylvania in the last four presidential contests, and Obama would have to offset a loss of its 21 electoral votes by taking Republican-leaning states from John McCain.

Polls suggest that Susick, a grandmother of three, does not represent most registered Democrats here or elsewhere. But there may be enough like-minded voters in Pennsylvania, whose last two presidential elections have been close, to tip it to McCain.

In the April 22 primary, Susick voted for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who carried Pennsylvania by 10 percentage points. Perhaps more troubling for Obama, one in four Clinton's backers told exit pollsters they would vote for McCain if Obama were the nominee; an additional 17 percent said they would not vote at all.

Obama has time and money to court these voters. Polls indicate some can be swayed. But the first-term senator is wading into unknown waters. Political scientists have reams of data about past elections, but there has been no test of how many voters make their ultimate decision based on race.

The answer may determine the presidency. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Florida, with large numbers of white, working-class voters, could prove problematic for a black man even in a year that otherwise looks grim for GOP candidates.

Gauging voter sentiments about race is notoriously difficult. Many voters hide their feelings from pollsters and it is possible that some do not even realize race's influence on their behavior.

In interviews with 40 Pennsylvanians across three counties that Clinton won by big margins, only one person indicated opposition to Obama simply because of his race. But several others said their neighbors might do so. Some offered objections that are familiar, and suspicious, to Obama's aides and supporters.

A few, like Susick, suggested the nation needs more time to prepare for a black president - and perhaps a woman as well.

"I don't think we're ready for either one yet," said Doug Richardson, 62, a contractor from Latrobe. Obama "just hasn't impressed me," he said over midmorning coffee with a friend at Denny's. "His middle name bothers me a lot." That name is Hussein.

Obama may have little to lose with voters such as Richardson, a self-described conservative who likes McCain. More worrisome are longtime Democrats who backed Clinton in April but are threatening to abandon the party now that she is not the nominee.

Rose Iezzi, who lunched recently with two friends at a Greensburg cafe, is one. All three women are middle-aged, work for an accountant and admire Clinton. But only Iezzi took a hard stand against Obama.

"I think he's a snake oil salesman," she said. "He's a little too slick and smooth."

"He just doesn't appeal to me, and not because of race, definitely," she said in an interview in which race had not been mentioned.

Such comments are all too familiar to Richard Akers, who phoned dozens of prospective Pennsylvania voters as an Obama campaign volunteer in April. Democrats often explained their opposition to Obama with "excuses that were not rational or valid, as I saw it," said the retired bank director from Johnstown, another hotbed of Clinton support.

"To me, it was almost a code," Akers said. "'He doesn't wear a flag pin.' It seemed like code for 'He's not one of us.'"

In Pennsylvania, as elsewhere, some people hardly hide their prejudices.

Robert Miller, 72, who lives in a government subsidized room in Bedford, said the Constitution should be amended so it will "not let any colored people run for the White House." He seemed unsure about his voting record in recent elections, but vividly recalled voting for Dwight Eisenhower in 1956.

Dixie Pebley of Johnstown, 71, explained her distaste for Obama, saying, "black doesn't bother me, but Muslim does." When reminded that Obama is a Christian, she conceded the point, but added: "He was born Muslim and raised Muslim, that's enough for me. He just scares me to death."

Obama, the son of a white mother from Kansas and black father from Kenya, was born and raised in a mostly secular family that occasionally attended Christian services. He joined the United Church of Christ as a young adult.

Obama has little to fear from Pebley, who said she no longer votes because she is disillusioned with politicians. But even some likely voters who are largely sympathetic to him are troubled by his ties, now broken, to a former pastor who cursed the United States and accused the government of possible conspiracies against blacks.

Kate Tanning, a Pittsburgh antiques dealer who was lunching with friends in Bedford, rejected Obama's claim that he did not know of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's most bombastic statements even though Obama attended Wright's Chicago church for 20 years.

"That's the one thing about him I can't believe," she said.

Obama generally avoids direct racial appeals, and he is likely to pursue such voters with familiar arguments: His opposition to the Iraq war and appeals for national unity and bipartisanship, for example. He may be making progress. National polls show him leading McCain among female voters and running even among Catholics, two groups that generally backed Clinton in the Democratic primaries.

But national polls are less important than those in the roughly 15 highly competitive states in which both parties will focus their efforts. These are all big states full of white, working-class voters who were Clinton's base, and include Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Obama will count on voters such as Iezzi's lunchmates, Susan Szymanski and Roxane Uhrin. Both said they strongly preferred Clinton, but will vote for Obama this fall in hopes of changing policies on the economy and Iraq.

"I don't want a third term of George Bush," Szymanski said.

James Antoniono, a Greensburg lawyer and veteran Democratic activist who worked for Clinton, said many Clinton backers will support Obama this fall, including some who told exit pollsters they would not.

"It's one thing to come out of the voting both and say that," Antoniono said. "It's another thing when you're faced with a choice in the general election."

Still, he said, Obama and his aides face tough battles. "There's no way they win Ohio, in my mind," he said in his law office, which faces Westmoreland County's elegant old courthouse. "I think Pennsylvania is winnable," he said. But he predicted Obama will "lose Westmoreland big," even though registered Democrats far outnumber Republicans in the county, which is east of Pittsburgh.

At least one Obama fan thinks the impact of racial prejudice may be limited.

Rick Weimer, a retired Coca-Cola truck driver who was eating a Chinese dish at a mall food court in Johnstown, said analysts are "pretty accurate" in describing Pennsylvania as Philadelphia in the east, Pittsburgh in the west "and Alabama in between." Obama's race "will hurt him" in many places, said Weimer, who follows the campaign intensely on cable TV. "But when push comes to shove, people around here want change."

That might include some white Democrats who publicly criticize Obama just to fit in with their neighbors, he said. "Once they go into the voting booth," he said, "who knows?"

[tonyd_31]

PA people: I really hope that it is not true that you will not vote for a candidate simply because of his race. I really thought america had progressed beyond that. What a pity......

[jack3213]

America has not moved past it, and not amount of saying so will do that. No amount of preeching, coddling, singing praises for the idealist future, mo amount of promises or illuions of grand change will allow a "black man" to lead this country, one that will raise your taxes at this juncture. The USA is not ready of an unqualified- inexperianced person any more. No amount of money will change that.

[jack3213]

America has not moved past it, and no amount of saying so will change it. No amount of preeching, coddling, singing praises for the idealist future, no amount of promises or illuions of grand change will allow a "black man" to lead this country, one that will raise your taxes, at this juncture. The USA is not ready of an unqualified- inexperianced person any more. No amount of money or excellent speeches will change that.

[mycommentspg]

Take the time to learn about the real issues and which candidate can actually live up to their promises and not just give a good speech.
http://mycommentspage.blogspot.com/

Unfortunately this is true, especially in smaller towns. Reasoned arguments with some of the more open-minded does seem to have an effect though, so there is hope!

[whatithink-2009]

mycommentspg,

McCain can''t give good speeches OR live up to any promises. Washington is broken and he has been in it for 20 years...doing nothing. There is a thing with politicians, the longer you remain one the less effective you are.

[whatithink-2009]

careyana,

Well, if people can first admit they have a problem that is a step in the right direction. What I''ve seen lately is too many people living in denial. All roads are blocked when people deny it.

[whatithink-2009]

sincityq,

Look at the woman''s comment. She says PA is not ready to elect a black president. You don''t think that is racial, I assume?

[whatithink-2009]

ddhinnyc,

What does that have to do with this topic?

[jack3213]

No amount of preeching, coddling, singing praises for the idealist future, no amount of promises or illusions of grand change will allow a "black man" to lead this country, one that will raise your taxes, at this juncture. The USA is not ready of an unqualified- inexperianced person any more. No amount of money or excellent speeches will change that. IT is what it is. Racism, like poverty, to some, will never cease.

[whatithink-2009]

ddhinnyc,

They are a loving couple, that''s what I thought. Very cute couple.

Racism, like poverty, to some, will never cease.

Posted by jack3213

_____________________________________________________

especially not when you''re spouting the same drivel...

[jack3213]

careyana: What the heck does that mean? Oh, yeah, that''s right you''re one of those that prefers your empty head in the hot sand..dummy

[whatithink-2009]

careyana,

Good post. There are pockets in this country where people are living in harmony, not based on color. The whole world opens up when you judge a man by the content of his character instead of the color of his skin. I''m surprised GOP types have not moved beyond race. They are the ones preaching PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. Nobody controls their color. They only control their actions...and that is what should be judged.

[jack3213]

Obama and Michelle a cute couple? Funny I thought of something completely differant than "cute"

whatithink -

Most of my family is fairly intelligent and does research the news (my mother writes for a regional newspaper so it helps)...however, we know too many others that ARE about race and gender and what ''they'' should and should not do with themselves.

[jack3213]

"The whole world opens up when you judge a man by the content of his character instead of the color of his skin"
WHAT KIND OF CHARACTER IS A MAN THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE PREACHER WHO HATES THE COUNTRY HE WANTS TO LEAD?

WHAT KIND OF CHARACTER OF A MAN IS SUPPORTED BY MILLIONS JUST BASED ON HIS COLOR, WHEN IN FACT HE HAS NO EXPERAINCE??

EMPTY MINDED SHALLOW PEOPLE, THAT''S WHO.

[whatithink-2009]

careyana,

I know. Sad. My children now are growing up learning several different languages (the world is flat) and we live in a wonderful, multicultural area. The kids have friends of all colors and creeds. Sometimes when I see them playing, I think to myself, if only it could be like this everywhere.

[perceptions5]

Racism is Obama own fault.

Afterall it was his pal and friend, Rev. Wright, the scared the hell out of "white Democrats".

Just the facts...........just the facts

Obama and Michelle a cute couple? Funny I thought of something completely differant than "cute"

Posted by jack3213
_________________________________________________

Funny, and you tell me I have an empty head...

I''ll let your posts speak for themselves.

[whatithink-2009]

jack3213,

JFK received 85% of the Catholic vote when he ran for president. This was a wonderful, inspirational feat for Catholics. He gave them the inspiration that they too can become president.

What is wrong with our country that only white males can become president? People like Clinton and Obama have been a wonderful, needed inspiration. And if you admit it, McCain is no more qualified to be president than either of them. He is actually probably the least intelligent of them all.

[cold777]

Don''''t elect mccain....I don''''t want that old person smell in there.


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Posted by melchg at 10:20 AM : Jun 09, 2008


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I couldn''t stop laughing after reading this one.....nice!

[element51]

It is truly sad to read an article like the one here. I had hoped that America had moved past or certainly made progress on the race issue but I guess I was wrong. When you have one old man who says that the constitution should be ammended to prevent people of color from running for president, that says a lot. I am a 63 year old white male but my parents taught me to never judge a person by their color or race. When someone like Jack3213 basically says that a "black man" will never be allowed to lead this country it speaks volumes about where much of America stands. We say we believe in equality but we really don''t. Another person in the article has trouble with Obama''s middle name. What a stupid statement. And another even when admitting to the truth says she won''t vote for Obama because he is a muslim. The TRUTH is that he is not. But she still won''t vote for him even after having the truth presented to her. All I can say is if these people aren''t smart enough to see what will happen if McCain in elected then they deserve what they will get.

whatithink -

Thank you.

I just laugh to myself with the thoughts if Obama was running as a gay black man. Then the GOP would really be going crazy!

[whatithink-2009]

careyana,

Yes, this guy (Jack) is dealing with some very dark elements internally. Some of his posts could have been written by Satan.

[chitown639]

What is wrong with our country that only white males can become president? People like Clinton and Obama have been a wonderful, needed inspiration. And if you admit it, McCain is no more qualified to be president than either of them. He is actually probably the least intelligent of them all.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by whatithink

Very well said!!!!!

[jack3213]

Religion is not "Race" for one- For two- McCain is far more intelligent than either Clinton or Obama will ever be- and far more experainced- the fact you don''t see that is baffling..LOL But, I don''t care what you see or not- it''s just amazing so many of us see so many things differantly.

[aldon61]

What''s scary to me is that there are still people in our country that are openly prejudiced against african americans. This prejudice is slowly dying out, but is still having it''s murky affect on our country. People need to look at ISSUES, not color when voting. People like jack3213 keep driving wedge issues into the mix, don''t be fooled, look at real issues only, then vote for McCain or Obama as YOU see fit!

[whatithink-2009]

careyana,

LOL.

I wouldn''t be surprised if we didn''t already had a gay president. You never know.

whatithink -

If only...

My hometown is what I jokingly call ''cracker'' - meaning almost all residents are white and catholic. Most are fairly religious. As an outsider looking in (I''m in Texas now) Obama''s speech about the ''bitter'' folks, really describes the thinking in my hometown.

Of course, I moved away about seven years ago and there has been a lot of growth, bringing a lot of different cultures in. Most have not been well-received (in fact, I''m sure you''re well familiar with Hazleton and Lou Barletta). I''m kept up-to-date by my remaining family.

It''s not pretty up there.

[aldon61]

What is wrong with our country that only white males can become president? People like Clinton and Obama have been a wonderful, needed inspiration. And if you admit it, McCain is no more qualified to be president than either of them. He is actually probably the least intelligent of them all.


----------------------------------
----------------------------------------
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Posted by whatithink

Very well said!!!!!


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Posted by chitown639 at 10:26 AM : Jun 09, 2008

Well said, both of you!

[whatithink-2009]

jack3213,

You need to do some research into McCain''s background. The problem with some people in this country is it is always assume the white male is qualified. This is often far from the fact.

McCain graduated at the bottom of his high school class.

He graduated 5th from the bottom of his naval class.

He was accepted to flight school ONLY because his father was an admiral.

His instructors have said several times, he was one of the worst students they''ve every had.

Consequently, he had five major accidents with his airplane...one leading to the deaths of 134 people.

If you are against affirmative action, you should be against McCain. He is the product of the oldest and strongest form of it...legacy-based admissions.

jack3213 -

McCain may or may not be intelligent, but he''s so senile he forgot everything he used to know.

[chitown639]

McCain is far more intelligent than Obama???? HA HA HA!!! Now thats a laugh!!! He doesnt even know who we are fighting in Iraq and he has been to Iraq several times. McCain admitted that Economics wasnt his strong suit. McCain doesnt have the academic background, the intellectual capacity nor the temperment to be Commander-and-Chief!!!!

[likeitis5050]

Get to know him. I guarantee once you learn more about him you''ll have 20 reasons not to elect him and race won''t even be on the list!!!!

[debkb1]

It is the racism that Barack Obama displays towards whites that is problematic, not any racism directed toward him. His books are full of negativity toward white people, and his "spiritual mentor" (til he threw him under the bus when people found out what he really is) is a raving racist anti-white anti-American. How this man ever got to this point in a presidential election is beyond me!! I will be writing in Hillary Clinton when I vote for president.

[whatithink-2009]

aldon61 and chitown639,

Thanks.

[nolalou]

I hope most people will base their vote in November on issues not race. I think the debates may help in that regard. Both candidates have their strong and weak points. One perceived weakness for Obama is lack of Government experience, for McCain it''s his support for continuing an unpopular war.

I think this could very well be another close election, being decided by one or two states.

[jack3213]

Einstein graduated bottom of his class- that is not the point. What is the point is that EXPERIANCE does count- and so does MONEY-..... YOURS! You want to pay higher taxes- God Bless you if you can. Vote Democrat and you will be paying higher taxes ..good luck

[element51]

jack3213...You really believe that McCain in the most intelligent of the three? You must be kidding. Here are some facts. McCain finished at the BOTTOM of his class. It is likely that he would have washed out had his father not been an Admiral. Obama finished at the TOP of his class and was editor of the Law Review. As for Clinton, I don''t know about her academic career and unlike you I will not make something up. While I don''t think McCain is stupid I find it interesting that he needs Joe Liberman to prompt him when he says something that is totally wrong. I haven''t seen anyone whispering in Obama or Clinton''s ears.

[whatithink-2009]

Posted by careyana at 10:31 AM : Jun 09, 2008

It''s easier to be a racist than not a racist. It takes effort to move beyond race. Also, this country has been based on race since inception. Have you read the Texas Ordinance of Secession? You can google it. That document will make you thankful for political correctness. Fact is, it has only been since the 1970s/1980s that some progress has been made. Old habits die hard...especially the bad ones.

jack3213 -

McCain may or may not be intelligent, but he''s so senile he forgot everything he used to know.

[whatithink-2009]

Posted by Nancy_Naive at 10:37 AM : Jun 09, 2008

I gotta agree with you there. I''ll vote for Obama but after Bush was given a 2nd term, I''m not to trustful of some of my fellow Americans.

[hoseobama]

"I just laugh to myself with the thoughts if Obama was running as a gay black man. Then the GOP would really be going crazy! - Posted by careyana

"LOL!!! There would be a second civil war. - Posted by melchg



Proof again the Democratic party is bent on getting others to accept the blame for some of their own short comings.

Please note: in the article the apparent racist was a Democrat, not a Republican. Then, as if this weren''t enough, the ''gaye'' card was played.

As a Republican, I judge a person by their character. This doesn''t seem to be a quality shared by most left voters on this site.

[hungryman9]

"He was accepted to flight school ONLY because his father was an admiral." and his grandfather too...

McCain is 5 generations of welfare recipients... only their Welfare Officer was called a "Trust Fund Manager" or Trustee.

Posted by Nancy_Naive
*****************************
How do you know that is true. Show proof. I''ve been reading your post for weeks and seems that you just make things up.

[taotxzen]

Senator Graham: McCain''s Policies Would "Absolutely" Be An Extension Of Bush''s

Huffington Post | June 8, 2008 12:37 PM

Senator John McCain has aggressively tried to distance himself from Bush in an effort to avoid being tagged by Democrats as running for Bush''s third term. However, McCain''s chief surrogate, Senator Lindsey Graham, did not adhere to that message during his appearance on ABC''s This Week, with George Stephanopoulos.

Stephanopoulos asked Sen. Graham if McCain''s tax and healthcare policies are essentially "an extension or maybe an enhancement of the Bush policies." Sen. Graham answered, "Yeah, absolutely."

Fact Check:

According to Congressional Quarterly, Senator John McCain has voted with President Bush 100% of the time in 2008 and 95% of the time in 2007.

[pesojoe]

I judge a man by the company he keeps. Michelle is enough to shut me down, she is disingenuous racist and uppity. Look at everyone else BHO has for friends, preacher, slum lord and Chicago mob. All talk and no walk just make white people feel he is not a muslim till after the election. You turned me to the other party when no one else has been able to.

[whatithink-2009]

jack3213,

I think those who pushed us into unlimited wars via a huge budget deficit should have no authority over our finances. Wars cost money. You are living in la la land. I''d rather pay for this war than force my children to pay back China for this war (principal and interest payments).

And, I''ve heard McCain...he ain''t no Einstein.

[taotxzen]

Sunday Funnies:

McCain policy advisor Douglas Holtz-Eakin now argues that it is Senator Obama %u2013 not McCain %u2013 who wants to continue Bush%u2019s fiscal policies. Obama%u2019s budget %u201Cis dedicated to the recent Bush tradition of spending money on everything,%u201D he said.

[whatithink-2009]

pesojoe,

Uppity? Your white sheet is showing through your diatribe.