Political Media Blinded by Blocs

Not surprisingly, Clinton fared the best with white women and white seniors. These groups also tend to identify with Clinton, as African-Americans do with Obama. Clinton represents hope for many women, some of whom are old enough to remember that women only received the right to vote in 1920. Clinton was the first women ever to win a primary contest.

Her support, however, hasn't been limited to the obvious identity groups. In fact, her strongest support mostly comes from low-income Democrats according to an analysis by ABC's head pollster, Gary Langer. Income appears to be the determining factor across her sectors of supporters.

The media mostly fails to suggest alternatives to race, despite alternatives in plain sight. Voters beware of a lazy media!

Many Democrats vote based on party loyalty. The Clintons have retained credibility with many Democrats, despite the lashings Bill Clinton in particular has taken in the media. Some still see the Clintons as leaders in the party. This had been reinforced up until recently by Clinton's lead with superdelegates.

On the other hand, Obama's appeal has been based around his stated interest in overcoming the divide in politics. Nate Persily, professor of law and politics at Columbia University Law School, said: "His story in life is about trying to be a crossover politician, and he hoped to avoid the discussion of racial division."

This obsession of the media exacerbates the attention paid to missteps by the candidates. Because rather than focusing on issues, they can pounce on the old bloc-related canards. Examples include when Clinton cited an Associated Press article "that found how Sen. Obama's support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me. There's a pattern emerging here." Or when Obama made the aforementioned, and oft-repeated bitter comment.

The media has done a disservice to the candidates and voters. In their rush to report on conflict, they have failed to report proper quotes and provide adequate sourcing. Elections are too important to get the short shrift from an impatient media.