Frank talk of Obama and race in Virginia

[IndianaGreen]

Frank talk of Obama and race in Virginia

As Obama supporters push to win the dead-even battleground state, they are talking directly about race, betting that the best way to put neighbors at ease is to open up.

By Peter Wallsten, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
October 5, 2008

WHITEWOOD, VA. -- The isolated towns of Virginia's Appalachian coal region are home to strong labor unions and Democratic political machines that date back generations. Yet voters here who eagerly pushed Democrats into the Senate and the governor's office are resisting Barack Obama.

Some Americans say Obama's race and uncommon background make them uncomfortable -- here those people include Democratic precinct chairmen and get-out-the-vote workers. Many Americans receive e-mails falsely calling Obama a Muslim -- here a local newspaper columnist has joked in print that Obama would have the White House painted black and would put Islamic symbols on the U.S. flag.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-virginia5-2008oct05,0,7655182.story

[underpants]

1. Good approach out there

they may not like being compared to blacks but they appreciate the guy-who-rose-up type story

The Dems have been working SW Virginia hard since Warner ran for Gov.-SW Va put him over the top. They didn't do that great with Kaine but hometown boy Kilgore was running against him. Webb did okay there-enough for Richmond, Norfolk, and No.Va to put him over the top. I think that is all they really expect there-to get over 40% of the vote. That would be a good result for Obama out past Roanoke.

[RagAss]

2. How much work is Warner doing for Barack?