Republican skinheads (or their equally Republican evangelical equivalents)?
My friend, you clearly underestimate the obsession with race in America. I'm not saying most Americans are racists, but most of us have race on the brain. Obama's edge would be much larger if he was White, and everybody knows it. Any American voter claiming to be "undecided" at this late stage is somebody who can't decide whether they want to vote in their economic interest (Obama) or whether they want to keep the Presidential line racially White (McCain). This is a crossroad for the USA, and I hope most of us have matured enough to make the right decision.
I agree with your observations and your sentiment, but I don't think the so-called "game changer" (non) incident would make any real difference. No one in his right mind would blame Obama for the alleged action of an isolated thug. Those who had no intention or voting for him anyway, would have one more excuse not to do so. Those who were planning to vote for him would see it for the non event that is was (actually wasn't). As for the "undecided," I'd like to think it wouldn't make a difference for them either. The undecided who can't bring themselves to vote for a black man probably aren't going to vote for him anyway. The thinking undecided hopefully won't be swayed by nonsense. Just my opinion.
But I think such fear arguments would essentially be heard only by those racists who want to hear it anyway. And I doubt those people could be swayed otherwise regardless. Stated differently, they would be preaching to their own choir. The racist portion of the Republican party would be strengthening that portion of its own base perhaps, but I doubt they would actually expand it. More racists may come out of the closet, but I'd like to think it would not increase their voting number.
