Decades after the struggle against segregation, the racial issues are coming in prominence in US election politics. Barack Obama is fighting to prove that the United States is ready for a black president, observers say.
“The race card is on the table in this election and it is not coming off,” writes ‘Politico’, the US political news website. The Illinois senator has been successful in pushing away the notion that his color could keep him away from competing as a prospective Democratic candidate for president. He stood out as victorious in the first nominating state of Iowa and was beaten with narrow margins in New Hampshire by Hillary Clinton. Newsweek magazine recently hailed him as a “new chapter” for the United States and gave him a cover page respect.
Barack Obama stands with a vision to lead the US beyond racial divisions, beyond class, beyond race and “put together coalitions of people who would be able to put people together, able to change things”, said Ron Walters, a professor of political and African-American affairs at Maryland University.
He is certainly not the first black American to run for president, but with his untainted image he is considered as a champion of civil rights. He is the only black senate member. He has been the first black editor of the ‘Harvard Law Review’.
Civil rights concerns might have come a long way since Martin Luther King Jr. fought segregation in the 1960s but the rising disputes based on race indicate that racial equality is still sensitive. Next nomination battle destination for Democrats would be the state South Carolina. This state populates half of the black voters who will be deciding the fate of candidates on this Saturday.
Barack Obama is treading with care and doesn’t specifically talk about black issues. He is not banking upon black voters solely. He is rather concentrating on gaining support among the affluent white voters. Younger people who are looking forward for a new generation leadership may also form a voter base for Obama, say political analysts.
However, Obama is facing a little criticism as well. For many people he does not seem to be smooth on the issue of race.”That kind of campaign behavior does not resonate with me,” said the black television entrepreneur Bob Johnson.
Many political scientists including Larry Sabato feel that he should be able to win a thumping majority of the African-American vote. These people are wondering if he could win.
Civil rights issues gained prominence among the presidential candidates recently and the open debates highlighted this point. Poll results show that among black voters Obama enjoys nearly two-to-one support against Hillary Clinton.
