Candidates Focus on Missouri

It is curious how many times Obama and McCain have come to Missouri and particularly to the Kansas City area. I think the folks in Missouri have enjoyed the attention. It seems unprecedented to me.

I guess Missouri matters and have learned that it is something of a microcosm of the United States as a whole. I guess a couple of other states share a similar distinction but of course even though I'm a Kansan I am going to say Missouri is the state "most" representative of national demographics.

This is a little distressing to an abolitionist from Kansas. I hate to see those border ruffians get all the visits from Presidential candidates. On the other hand Kansas always seems to vote for the Republican Presidential candidate so Obama seems to have no hope of winning in Kansas.

Still, Missouri does seem both Blacker and more racist than Kansas. Maybe that is just a self-righteous illusion of people who have little contact with Blacks anyway. So without trying to plumb that social reality or social prejudice I think an Obama victory in Missouri would be quite historic. In that even you could even declare the end of the Civil War! I say this because Missouri still has the image of a rebel stronghold that celebrates racist terrorists like Quantrill.

Unfortunately, Obama's victory may not be the progressive victory many hope will come about with or without his support. That will be up to Obama.