Letters to the Editor
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DurianJoe
As a Irish Catholic guy from Illinois, I can't disagree more with your statement that Hillary's and Obama's support comes from their respective groups. African-Americans didn't flock to Obama until after he proved himself.
In the Illinois primary for Senate that Obama won, there were about ten candidates. I voted for Dan Hynes (a great guy) and even had his sign on my lawn. After Obama trounced everyone (Hynes finished second) I heard Obama speak in person just before his national moment at the convention.
During that talk two things happened. First, I said to myself that he, as an individual, needs to be President. After the fact it occurred to me that also this would achieve the ancillary benefit that he'd be the first African-American President. That was an afterthought. It has also been an afterthought among African-Americans. Until he proved himself over the course of the primary campaign, he did not have the support of "his group".
I think Obama from the start has run as an individual, and the Clintons have run as, well, about every identity they thought worked at any particular moment.
Before we get to the general election, the Democrats need to settle this.