An interesting article in the San Francisco Chronicle about how Senator Obama is bridging the racial divide:

Democratic Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has made his place in the history books as an inspirational orator who has become a serious African American candidate for president from a major party - but now, he is approaching what could be his biggest moment of truth.

Political observers say Obama's future will depend on whether he can make the jump from being a distinguished presidential contender to what some have called the Tiger Woods of American politics - an African American who can cross the racial divide and inspire people of all races as the party's nominee.

"This is a question about the attitudes of the mainstream - and particularly white Americans - in how they regard a black man who is superb in his field ... (and) this is why Barack Obama has a chance to become president of the United States in 2008," said Phil Trounstine, who heads the San Jose State Survey and Policy Research Institute.

In a recent essay, he argued that Woods, another mixed-race man of high
achievement, "has opened up a pathway for Obama in the American political
psyche as no one before him."

For the full aricle, go here:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/11/13/MN1DTAV4L.DTL