Obama can win.

[cali]

And the crap about how he can't because he's *gasp* black or his middle name is *double gasp* Hussein, is just that: crap.

It's true that there are people that won't vote for a black man, just as it's true that there are people that won't vote for a woman, or a rich trial attorney. All candidates have their deficits.

Obama, I believe, does a great job of both embracing his ethnic background and bridging the racial divide. He's been successfully doing this throughout his campaign. He'll do it if he's the candidate. He handles it deftly and with grace. And if you don't think that counts, you're wrong.

Buying into the "he's not electable because he's black and people will paint him as a Muslim" is buying into bigotry. And that's shameful.

He's a very gifted man, and an incredibly gifted politician. He doesn't need the South to win, and he stands as good a chance of winning states like NM and even in VA as any of the others.

Take a look at who he'd possibly be matched against:

Guiliani? By the time we're through with Rudy, he'll look like the sleaziest politician ever, and Obama's record and character will stand up well against that picture. Sure they'll try and paint him as unexperienced, but that's not insurmountable.

Romney? A cardboard cutout with no humor, no likability and his own religion problem.

Huckabee? Please.

The electorate itself has shifted significantly over the past 4 years. There are more democrats and independents and far fewer repukes than there were in 2004. More red/purple states are competitive.

Obama can win the general election. And if he's the candidate, he stands an excellent chance next year.