I'm Mike Fitzsimmons with commentary on 920 - KXLY.....

Some weeks ago I suggested in one of my commentaries that in this uncommon election year, it would be impossible to conduct a campaign without involving an element of race. That was before Reverend Jeremiah Wright inflamed the conversation, and it was before primary election results demonstrated that the majority of white Democrats have not cast their ballots for Barack Obama, and it was before Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean claimed Republicans are race baiting. Now it is clear that race is indeed an unavoidable part of this election, especially now that it is beyond likely that the first black candidate nominated by any major American political party, will battle for the White House in November.

It has been impossible from the start to ignore the role of race in this campaign, and it is obvious that voters have not. Not just a majority of blacks have thrown their support behind Senator Obama, but nearly all black voters, especially in the later Democratic primaries. Who can blame them? This kind of opportunity has never surfaced before. The majority of white Democrats, however, appear not to be as enthusiastic about Obama. In many states, up to 75% of them have opposed him. I suspect many will vote for Obama in the general election, but his has been a difficult task to win the support of white voters in his own party. It will no doubt be harder in the months ahead. Hillary Clinton pointed this out a few days ago, and her observation drew immediate cries of racism. That's neither fair nor accurate. She merely pointed out what is obvious, but uncomfortable, given the race of the odds-on nominee.

It wasn't a racial slur, it was valid analysis of voter statistics.

If a majority of voters reject Barack Obama in November, as I believe they will ... many will blindly accuse the electorate of racism. A vote against Senator Obama will be a vote against a black man, whether the voter even cares about what color he is. This won't by itself be evidence of racism, although there may be an element of it in the intentions of some voters. Let us be realistic ... there are many reasons not to want Senator Obama to be president that have nothing to do with his race.

With commentary on 920 - KXLY, I'm Mike Fitzsimmons