Whoever thought that the issue of race and racism would not raise its ugly head and become a major factor in this presidential election campaign must be in eternal hibernation. From Barack Obama announced, almost two years ago, that he was running for president, race has been an issue. Race, despite efforts to keep it under wraps, became front and center as the Senator from Illinois won primary after primary to clinch the nomination. It continues to be an issue as Obama contends with Republican, John McCain for the presidency.

Some people really did believe McCain when he said last April that he would be staying away from a negative political campaign because the American people were tired of that and wanted a campaign where the two candidates would focus on the issues.

However, ever since Obama embarked on a highly visible trip to Europe and the Middle East, particularly pulling a crowd of over two-hundred thousand at his speech in Berlin, Germany, not only has McCain turned negative, but downright silly as well.

Clearly, Obama’s foreign trip brought home to the McCain campaign, that the young senator was not only extremely popular here in the U.S., despite his ethnicity, but overseas as well. As the media fawned over Obama, McCain realized that he had to damage his character, as his attempts to attack Obama on policy issues have not made any inroads. So the McCain camp resorted to publishing some silly ads. One compared Obama to flighty, air-headed, celebrities like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. The message: Obama may be a celebrity, even more popular than those young women, but is this a criterion for leadership?

This was soon followed by another unbelievably silly ad, comparing Obama to Moses - the Great One, sent by God to part the Red Sea and deliver the Israelites. When Obama criticized these ads, and told an audience that this is the usual Republican negative strategy designed to place fear in the minds of the electorate that he was different, and not like the other presidents some of whom appeared on the American currency, the McCain campaign suddenly found that these comments had racist implications, and blew up a huge racist mushroom cloud over the nation because of this.

Within a heartbeat racism became the focus of the campaign aided by the relentless TV media, notably CNN, FOX and MSNBC, which replayed, unceasingly, Obama speech referring to his image as not being like other presidents, and the two silly ads. Last weekend, every political talk show had pundits (learned and unlearned) discussing if there were really racial implications in Obama’s comments and McCain’s reactions.

What is a fact is that Obama never accused McCain nor his campaign of being racist in his comments. He was simply drawing attention to the fact that because he was not in the traditional mode of previous presidents, it was being used to wage a negative campaign against him. But, McCain finding it difficult to overtake Obama on the pressing issues of the economy, affordable housing and health reform, has made a deliberate attempt to attack Obama’s person, and since Obama is Black, and this fact is in the minds of every voter, it will always cause racism to be a strong undercurrent.

Let’s face it, race has always been an issue in America, from the day the Pilgrims landed and started to eliminate the (Red) Indians, through slavery and segregation, and still lingers today. Granted, much progress has been made, especially since we have a Black candidate running for president. Although 50 percent of the national electorate accepts this candidate as a viable choice for president there is still another 50 percent who are doubtful if this candidate could be a worthwhile president. Their doubts are based not on the possibility that he is incapable to lead as president, but on the debate within themselves if they can and should vote for a Black man to be their leader. McCain, fully aware of these doubts is ready and willing to wage a negative campaign, one that he says that he is proud of, to raise the level of doubt. Isn’t this covert racism, shrouded in silly ads?

Unfortunately, Obama has been forced to respond to McCain over this silliness. Forced to, because of the fragility of racism McCain’s childish ads and his sudden focus on racism have worked, resulting in Obama falling from a 9 percent national lead over McCain a week ago to a mere one percent lead early this week. Unfortunate, because this election has several real nuts and bolts issues, impacting the lives of most Americans, that need serious debate. Really, the issues are not the level of the candidate’s popularity, or innuendos in their speeches that smacks of racism.

The whole matter becomes even ridiculous because Obama’s and McCain’s racial differences cannot be hid. Every comparable image of both candidates portrays the difference in their race. Americans are fully aware that a Black man and a White man are running to be president, but the same public wants to know if either the Black or the white man is best suited to represent them on the issues that impact their lives. If the public believed that Obama could not be a serious contender for the presidency he would never be the Democratic nominee. So, despite the disparity of race it is the burning issues that must be dealt with, without trying to make racism the outstanding issue. Let’s hope McCain believes his own words that he is “ready to move on” and join Obama in aggressive debates on the issues. May the best man, Black or white, be victorious.