The Plank

by Walter Alarkon - 06/05/08 9:00 AM ET

Backlash from voters and media to sexist and racist reactions toward Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama may have helped them in their nomination bids, writes Isaac Chotiner, who explains to foreign observers why racist sentiments hasn’t sunk Obama’s campaign. Clinton supporters should recognize that the backlash may have helped their candidate in New Hampshire and elsewhere before blaming sexism for their candidate’s loss, he adds. While Republican fundraisers may be giddy at the prospect of Clinton as a vice presidential nominee, they’re forgetting the conservative pundits that they like to read have been praising Clinton’s candidacy, Josh Patashnik writes.

Tags Barack Obama Hillary Clinton