In Smalltown, U.S.A., Obama's campaign looks doomed

SEYMOUR, Ind. — Of course one shouldn't jump to conclusions talking to friendly voters in one small homogeneous community.

But in this south-central Indiana town where voter after voter casually dismisses the possibility of America electing a black president and in a week where Barack Obama's longtime pastor and friend is all over airwaves, it feels like a consequential shift has occurred in the Democratic primary.

Hillary Rodham Clinton's longshot bid to overtake Obama for the nomination suddenly seems not so far-fetched. But more clear, and sad, is the sense that this presidential race is now doomed to be mired in race, that Obama's promise to bridge racial divisions may be shattered.

"How did we get from point A to point B?" Mary Ann Pardieck, a law firm administrator and Obama supporter in Seymour, glumly asked Tuesday.

"Point A was this wonderful, hopeful period around Iowa when it seemed like we could get beyond all that," she said. "Now we've progressed into this morass. The campaign has degenerated into these conversations I don't want to be having and which I don't think are helpful to the country."

Clearly front-runner Obama understands he is at a perilous point in the campaign, with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright doing a media blitz that helped promote the damaging and growing narrative that Obama can't win crucial working-class white voters.

A day after brusquely dismissing Wright's comments before the National Press Club, the Illinois senator stepped before the cameras Tuesday to give a longer, full-throated denunciation.

"I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened by the spectacle that we saw yesterday," Obama said at a news conference in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Wright on Monday in Washington variously hailed the Rev. Louis Farrakhan, suggested the government may be responsible for spreading AIDS, said critics of him are attacking the African-American church, and implied that Obama might share those views even if he can't admit it for political reasons.

On Tuesday, Obama said: "I have been a member of Trinity United Church of Christ since 1992 and have known Reverend Wright for 20 years. The person I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 years ago.

"What I think particularly angered me was his suggestion somehow that my previous denunciation of his remarks were somehow political posturing. Anybody who knows me and anybody who knows what I'm about knows that I am about trying to bridge gaps and I see the commonality in all people."

Clinton received a badly needed burst of momentum last week when she handily beat Obama in Pennsylvania. If she defies expectations and wins Indiana and comes close to Obama in North Carolina, we'll know Obama is really damaged.

Ultimately the nomination will require uncommitted superdelegates to decide the best nominee for the party, and Obama needs to knock down the notion that he can't win over the kind of middle-class white voters that Democrats will need in November.

Indiana is unlikely to be in play in November, but Seymour, the place where rocker John "I was born in a small town" Mellencamp was born, is the kind of working-class, white community where Obama has often struggled to gain traction.

"Barack Obama will get some votes here, but in this city you'll find much more support for Hillary — and for McCain," said coffee shop employee Rob Malone, 31, an enthusiastic Clinton backer. "A lot of people,'' he lowered his voice, "aren't ready for a black president."

Margaret Hensley, an ardent Democrat from Seymour, lamented that Obama's background would make him much easier for McCain to beat.

"I'm scared to death that if he were elected there will be a shooting or a riot," she said.

Such sentiments are common in Seymour. Obama can only hope that cutting off his ties to Rev. Wright keeps them from spreading too far.

Comments on this article

by Chris	Apr 30, 2008 3:30 PM
JC... I'd say the racism is coming from the 90% or so of a race that supports Obama.

by Henry	Apr 30, 2008 3:22 PM
I used to be hopeful we finally had a chance at something new. No way Obama is getting elected now. We're left with more Clinton nonsense (ugh) or more Bush style GOP nonsense (ugh). USA is the best country in the world but d

by Gilbert	Apr 30, 2008 3:22 PM
I have always been told, "be careful of the crowd you are in", this certainly rings true for Obama. As much I would like it, The United States will NEVER, EVER have a Black for Pres. male or female PERIOD! We must not kid ourselves. I am Af

by John	Apr 30, 2008 3:16 PM
This is why the SPT is a liberal joke - delete my posting just because I said that Obama gets 90% of the black vote but you want us to believe that it's white people who can't cross racial lines? Is there anything factually inaccu

by John	Apr 30, 2008 3:16 PM
It's not that America is not ready for a black President. It just does not think Barack Obama is the right candidate.

by Dr Charlie	Apr 30, 2008 3:12 PM
Let's put the blame where it belongs. Barack Obama is just as responsible for this: 1) "Bittergate" 2) associating & friendly with an admitted terrorist Bill Ayers 3) 20 years in his church under Rev Wright 4) M

by Jen	Apr 30, 2008 3:09 PM
It's a shame this is what we're concentrating on. Let's all close our eyes, pretend we're all the same race (human) and vote on what we hear on the issues.

by Scott	Apr 30, 2008 3:08 PM
You are relentless Adam. Stories are popping up all over how R's are turning D's when they learn about Hagee and his association with McCain and the media handling of both stories. Vote Republican at your own peril.

by Debbie	Apr 30, 2008 3:08 PM
It was inevitable because it never goes away. People like the Rev. Wright, Farrakhan, Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton won't let it. Until people like that stop being hypocritical about the race issue, it will always be there...

by Benz	Apr 30, 2008 3:03 PM
After Bush, I'm not sure if I'm ready for another white president.

by Jeremy	Apr 30, 2008 3:03 PM
Media's fixation on the story isn't helping Obama. One wonders whether fires are purposely stoked for viewer-ship. Race inevitably has arisen in this campaign, and we see again how pitifully our Nation handles this issue. Sickening

by Ryan	Apr 30, 2008 2:59 PM
It's flat out ridiculous that this has become a point of debate in the campaign. Why can't policy decide who our politicians are? Why do we prefer these side shows?

by Frank	Apr 30, 2008 2:53 PM
Obama's speech about race after the first Wright episode was brilliant. But Wright has fallen in love with the spotlight to Obama's detriment. I understand Wright feels called to address racial injustice publicly, but he needs to check his

by JAE	Apr 30, 2008 2:51 PM
If Obama is smart, he can tuen this around. Many believe Wright's comments are not merely racial, but generational. Obama could accentuate his seperation from them not only one the racial aspect, but also as an appral to younger voters of all ra

by Bill	Apr 30, 2008 2:50 PM
Yes, his campaign is over..Done in by a racist black minister with a motive. You see, if Sen. Obama had attained the White House, the pulpit politics of blaming whites for all bad would cease to be valid and that's no good 4 Sharpton's, Wri

by Holly	Apr 30, 2008 2:50 PM
As Hillary said, "You can't pick your family, but you CAN pick your pastor." I am sure that Wright's diatribes have sounded the same for 20 years. Shame on Obama!

by Drew	Apr 30, 2008 2:49 PM
If only the media spent as much time covering REAL NEWS and how it affects Americans rather than silly nonsensical issues such as reverend Wright, maybe our country would be doing a lot better as we would have informed citizens.

by Rick	Apr 30, 2008 2:45 PM
I have voted democrat since turning 18 in the 1992 election. I have come to the conclusion that not party respects the african-american vote. I am finished voting in presidential elections.

by Dora	Apr 30, 2008 2:44 PM
Dear God, really? Are we really afraid that the end of the world will come if a black man is president? God forbid we have a well educated man, black or white, or woman as leader. Why can't we look past the small things and focus on what really

by Laurie	Apr 30, 2008 2:40 PM
Yes Obama's chance at the Presidency is doomed and Hillary didn't even have to mud sling on this front. Obama's own spiritual advisor has sealed this deal for him. Hallelujah!

by Chris	Apr 30, 2008 2:36 PM
I was all about Obama and what he stood for, but to listen to the hatred in his Pastor's voice scares the hell out of me and can no longer support someone that is or was ever affiliated with this man. Rev. Wright has ruined a great campaign.

by Dee	Apr 30, 2008 2:36 PM
I feel The Sen Obama has waited too long to speak up about his pastor ,Now he will pay with lost votes.

by Art	Apr 30, 2008 2:35 PM
If this Reverand brought Obama to Christianity, married him, and is God-parent to his children, plus you've belonged to his church for 16 years..how can one even pretend not to know let alone agree with the Reverand hate speak? Bye bye Obam

by Rob	Apr 30, 2008 2:35 PM
"I'm scared to death that if he were elected there will be a shooting or a riot." Indiana, and all the country bumpkin racists out there, need to get into their diesel truck and drive into the ocean.

by Steve	Apr 30, 2008 2:31 PM
Since Obama always wins the educated class, how about if we just educate everybody so he will win easily next time? Just a thought.

by geezer	Apr 30, 2008 2:30 PM
Defies expectations? Clinton has been up in the Indiana polls all along and is expected to win.

by Fred	Apr 30, 2008 2:28 PM
Is your headline based on any valid research or just walking down the street and talking to a few people. If it is the former - your headline is simply irresponsible. Shame on you.

by Mike	Apr 30, 2008 2:28 PM
Why is Adam Smith continuously offering such commentary? His even-handedness is less than absolute, if you understand my meaning.

by Clearwate	Apr 30, 2008 2:27 PM
As Hillary has said we know all know her baggage. Her experience and dedication to the US is what this country need NOW! Obama needs experience and time to mature. The public needs time to learn more about him.He is only a freshman senator.

by Drew	Apr 30, 2008 2:27 PM
So we have a looming recession, an endless war in Iraq, sky high gas prices, and countless other problems, and the major issue in politics is that a candidate's preacher said controversial things? How stupid and yet how American.

by Ellie	Apr 30, 2008 2:25 PM
What is so exceedingly strange about the whole situation is that Obama claims this behavior by Rev. Wright is a sudden departure from his normal message. Wright is an interesting character, sans Obama.

by JC	Apr 30, 2008 11:14 AM
...working class, white community... "A lot of people aren't ready for a black president." I would agree racism is an issue in this election, but it's not coming from Obama!

by David	Apr 30, 2008 11:14 AM
A very sad commentary on where we are as a people. I remember when it was much worse, but a sad state of affairs.

by Helen	Apr 30, 2008 11:12 AM
Obama was not very convincing in his denunciations of his pastor......does anyone else think this whole Wright issue is 'staged', a pretense?

by savwa	Apr 30, 2008 11:07 AM
It took a long time, but thr SPT finally played the race card!