Obama's "Not Like Us" Problem

Several weeks ago I caught a portion of a Peter Hart focus group with Pennsylvania voters. That was the first time I became fully aware of how difficult it is for many voters to identify with this man of the 21st century. As Marc Ambinder says it in Atlantic Monthly:

" Now -- race may certainly be a major reason for this lack of projective identification, particularly among older whites. But it is also true that Obama's life is a 21st century American life; one of different countries, an unusual name, two races, a meteoric rise, a life of the mind (and a talented, incredible gift of a mind) and devoted to the ideals of expression. Obama did not grow up in poverty, but he was, we are reminded, not at all rich and just comfortable enough. He worked hard and paid off his student loan debts. Those facts aren't enough. Ms. VanderMolen won't tell us what new and unsettling information she's learned about Obama's life. Again, maybe this is her way of admitting to a racial bias. But absent a way for her connect to Obama, it stands to reason that she will be more likely to believe just about anything."

I disagree with Marc's assertion that these voters will believe anything. I do believe most of them who vote---especially those 50 and older--- are likely to translate their discomfort into a "default" vote for John McCain. It is too early to know whether this factor constitutes a significant threat to Obama in pivotal states like Pennsylvania, but 100 days worth of attacks in the media over the Internet and under-the-radar will likely cement and perhaps grow this "not like us" problem.