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I'm Scottish, a resident alien, and have lived in the states for about twelve years - so I have a unique perspective, being simultaneously an outsider, and someone with a deep interest in the outcome of this race. If I could vote - I'd vote Obama. An impartial appraisal of the issues allows no other choice.
But the rural vote is only partially about issues. Some people will vote for him just on the issues - because some people do actually try to make informed choices. Many others will 'vote with their gut', and unfortunately - their gut is still telling them that he is different.
My work takes me all across the states, and I get to work with, and meet, people of every social and economic background. What I've found is that rural people are curious about 'strangers'. But what they seem to want is the ability to 'tag' the stranger as 'same enough' or 'different'.
If you are tagged as different - you face a huge uphill battle to gain trust or acceptance (just as the 'eastern churches' found when competing with stump-pulpit baptist preachers).
This is Sen. Obama's challenge. He is less different to these folks I've met, than I - he had very similar upbringing (single mom, food stamps, mid-western grandparents lending a hand with his rearing). But he has black skin, he is urbane, and he is educated.
He can do nothing about his skin color. Racists are not going to change their stripes, and they're never going to vote for him. They are not the target.
He *can* address their perception of his fundamental 'difference' - that he is a 'snobby intellectual' by showing that he does identify closely with them. His family, his upbringing, his roots in Kansas -- these are the personal things he needs to amplify to reach these people.
Until he does - he'll just be another one of 'them rich folks'.
I cannot vote.
I can only hope that America votes correctly on my behalf.
