It seems to me that most of the consideration of Obama's candidacy is about the symbolic importance of having a black nominee for the White House to show that America is progressive. There is very little serious consideration of his credentials or ideas. America is eager to demonstrate that it is progressive, when in reality they are playing catch-up. Half of the members of the G8 have had a female head of state and in most of the western world race is hardly an issue in political life.