Will Obama's Move Win Over Whites, Anger Blacks?

April 30, 2008 — -- Has Barack Obama finally put what has perhaps become the biggest threat to his campaign -- the Rev. Jeremiah Wright -- behind him?

The Democratic candidate's strong denunciation of his fiery former pastor Tuesday was a necessary move to salvage his electability in the eyes of crucial superdelegates, say political consultants and advisers on both sides of the political spectrum.

Several referred to Obama's speech as his "Sista Souljah moment," referring to Bill Clinton's condemnation of the strident rap performer during the 1992 campaign, which broadened his appeal to centrist voters.

But it may not be enough to win over the crucial demographic of white, working-class and middle-class voters who have drifted in recent weeks to Hillary Clinton, as demonstrated by her victory in Pennsylvania last week.

"Rev. Wright was putting Obama's candidacy at risk," said Mitchell Moss, a professor of urban policy and planning at New York University. "He had to do a Sista Souljah on him. … You can't run for president and be associated with a guy attacking the U.S. He would be subject to questions about Wright throughout the rest of the campaign."

Moss predicts that Obama will gain more votes among white voters heartened by his forthrightness than he'll lose from black voters upset at his disloyalty to Wright.

"He had to prove that he was his own man and this was an important step," Moss said. "But nothing will shut down this issue until the next issue comes up."

The speech may help stop the exodus of white voters to Clinton, but Obama needs to do more to win over the so-called Reagan Democrats, says Republican consultant John Feehery.

"For voters on the fence or already in the Obama camp, this will help stop some erosion," Feehery said. "But folks who already have doubts won't be swayed by this. The Reagan Democrats are the most important voting bloc and Hillary does better with them. His chief problem is that he's a lot of talk and he needs to do something more than just rhetoric when it comes to Wright."