Introduction
Sen. Barack Obama greets supporters at a rally in Detroit on June 16, 2008. He attracted racially mixed crowds throughout the primary election season. (AFP/Getty Images/Bill Pugliano)
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The once unthinkable could happen this November: A black man may win the presidency. When freshman Illinois Sen. Barack Obama was born in 1961, African-Americans couldn't vote in parts of the United States. Now, as Obama prepares to accept the Democratic nomination in August, he is running slightly ahead of his presumptive Republican opponent, Arizona Sen. John McCain, a 71-year-old Vietnam War hero. First dogged by questions of whether he was "black enough," Obama now faces doubts about whether racial prejudice will prove a major obstacle to his historic campaign, especially among white working-class voters. Nonetheless, Obama is likely to benefit from changes in the country's demographic makeup, which is growing less white as immigration diversifies. At the same time, younger voters are showing notably less racial prejudice than older generations. Meanwhile, some top Republicans acknowledge the GOP needs to appeal to a broader range of voters if McCain is to win.
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Presidential Candidates and Campaigns |
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Jan. 15, 2021 |
The Biden Presidency  |
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Jan. 31, 2020 |
Presidential Primaries |
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Nov. 16, 2018 |
The Presidency |
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Jan. 06, 2017 |
Trump Presidency |
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Mar. 06, 2015 |
Presidential Power |
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Feb. 03, 2012 |
Presidential Election |
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Jan. 30, 2009 |
The Obama Presidency |
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Aug. 08, 2008 |
Political Conventions |
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Jul. 18, 2008 |
Race and Politics |
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Apr. 20, 2007 |
Electing the President |
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Dec. 30, 1988 |
Promises vs. Problems |
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Jul. 10, 1987 |
Presidential Nomination Process |
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Feb. 03, 1984 |
Choosing Presidential Nominees |
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Jun. 06, 1980 |
Choosing Presidential Candidates |
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Apr. 09, 1976 |
Presidential Campaign Coverage |
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Feb. 23, 1972 |
Political Conventions |
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May 27, 1964 |
Foreign Policy Issues in Election Campaigns |
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Sep. 21, 1960 |
Voting in 1960 |
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Jan. 06, 1960 |
Presidential Primaries, 1960 |
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Jan. 04, 1956 |
Campaign Smearing |
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Nov. 30, 1955 |
Presidential Possibilities, 1956 |
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May 09, 1952 |
Open Conventions |
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Jan. 16, 1952 |
Presidential Primaries, 1952 |
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Oct. 12, 1949 |
Modernization of the Presidential Election |
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Jan. 14, 1948 |
Presidential Primaries |
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May 01, 1944 |
Foreign Policy in National Elections |
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Jan. 01, 1944 |
Choice of Candidates for the Presidency |
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Apr. 08, 1940 |
Republican Candidates for the Presidency, 1940 |
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Apr. 01, 1940 |
Democratic Candidates for the Presidency, 1940 |
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Jun. 19, 1939 |
Selection of Nominees for the Presidency |
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Aug. 19, 1938 |
Nomination by Primary |
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Mar. 11, 1936 |
Voting in Presidential Elections |
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Feb. 18, 1936 |
Presidential Candidates, 1936 |
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Mar. 03, 1932 |
Decline of the Presidential Primary |
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Aug. 25, 1931 |
Presidential Candidates, 1932 |
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May 05, 1928 |
National Nominating Conventions |
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Sep. 03, 1927 |
Presidential Candidates—1928 |
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Jun. 14, 1927 |
Patronage Influence in Nominating Conventions |
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Sep. 11, 1926 |
The Future of the Direct Primary |
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Jul. 02, 1924 |
Proposed Reforms of Presidential Nominating Methods |
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Jun. 04, 1924 |
The Machinery of the Political Conventions |
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Mar. 15, 1924 |
Presidential Candidates and the Issues |
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Sep. 05, 1923 |
The Passing of the Second Term |
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