Pennsylvania Primary

Whew! The Pennsylvania primaries are over. Maybe. I think we are going to see much of the same intensity in Indiana. Not necessarily a bad thing in my book. As expected there is tons of spin from both sides, and the MSM (mainstream media) is making all sorts of predictions about the next states. Indiana is described as the next "battleground" state (I'm not a big sports fan, but I prefer sports metaphors to war metaphors. Wish they would use something else).

One thing keeps bugging me. Read this excerpt from The New York Times:

Meanwhile, Mr. Obama’s campaign was left struggling to explain on Wednesday why he had once again been unable to leave his opponent on the mat, as well as his troubles gaining the backing of white working-class voters. But Obama campaign officials were able to point to at least one unyielding reality on their side: he still possesses a lead in pledged delegates that will be almost impossible for Mrs. Clinton to erase.

We've been hearing this, and will continue to hear it for the rest of the campaign. What does it mean? Unfortunately, in my mind this means that the reality of Race in the U.S. is a huge factor in this campaign. For all that Obama has tried to de-center Race as central issue (and smartly so), his campaign still has to contend with that issue and with the difference it makes for so many. Looking closely at the media analysis of demographics in Pennsylvania, and in particular that demographic predicted to vote for Hillary, and adding the comments from exit polls, what do we get? Obama did not do so well with older white folks. And yes, in particular older white folks, with a lower level of education, in poorer parts of the state. These voters are more likely to say that race is an important consideration in their voting decision -- and have said so. The same relationship obtained in Ohio, and will shape the race somewhat also in Indiana.

Much work still to do.