Obama has immense charisma, but no significant political experience. The Dems ultimately wanted him, in my opinion mostly because of this charisma. He speaks well (perhaps this is what you meant when you said he talks white) is a fantastic orator and is overall a much more likeable, personable guy than McCain... at least to the undecided voter.
I really can't say that they didn't push the race card to its absolute limit, but i'd say it's about 50-50. If the Hildebeast had been elected they would have played the sex card. 2008 was all about changing the formula. It made the voters who were undecided excited about playing some minor part in that change.
The idealistic opinion that our votes actually in some way matter in the grand scheme of things; the concept that if "our guy" doesn't get the office all hell will break loose and if he does it will reign in a new golden age.
Obama won because he was black, was a good speaker, was basically a celebrity, and because Bush was so unpopular. Not one thing mentioned here makes him fit to lead the free world. And with the party lines getting so extreme, that's not what it's about anymore. It's about having a face who can win the elections so that the party can be in power.
[Edit: And incidentally, Kramer, I love your avatar.
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