Obama Proves Appeal Across Racial Lines

Black backing, broad support and failed Clinton attacks win race
By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 27, 2008 8:26 AM CST
Obama Proves Appeal Across Racial Lines
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., delivers his victory speech after his South Carolina primary win over Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. and former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., during a rally in Columbia, S.C., Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)   (Associated Press)

The Clintons threw their worst at Obama during the past week in South Carolina, hoping they'd rattled him, but in fact he emerged from this test of mettle with new strength, Patrick Healy writes in the New York Times. Obama's landslide rested on a high turnout of black voters, but also drew key support across racial lines in a southern state.

South Carolina demonstrated Obama's viability among white southerners, and he proved he was up to the challenge. As many white men voted for him as for Hillary Clinton, and 70% of white voters said they'd be satisfied with Obama as the candidate. South Carolina voters also showed themselves unimpressed by the Clintons' attacks, which seem to have backfired, leaving Hillary Clinton with tough questions about her failed strategy. (More Barack Obama stories.)

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