There is no doubt that people have stirred up some ugliness with Obama’s race and his name. But Barrack has acknowledged that this barrier will exist at some level for many people. He has said that he “doesn’t look like” the typical candidate, and that he has a “funny sounding name”. Some people will never get beyond it (which Obama understands), but a majority ultimately decide on the merits of the person and in the belief in the basic ideology.