Obama: Candidacy a sign of racial progress

CNN: Obama: Candidacy a sign of racial progress

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama said Friday the fact he is viewed as a legitimate presidential candidate is testament to the progress America has made on race relations. Denying that progress would "dishonor the memories of all those who fought for our civil rights throughout the generations," said Obama, the only African-American candidate running for the presidential nomination.

"My belief is that we have changed sufficiently in this country that it is possible for a large number of whites to vote for an African-American candidate," the Illinois Democrat told CNN contributor Roland Martin. "If I did not believe that, I would not be running."

"I just want to point out that all those other candidates are taking me awfully seriously, and if they didn't think I could get white votes then they wouldn't be worrying about my campaign as much as they are," he added.

Obama said he had to do well with African-America voters if he is to win the nomination, and acknowledged that Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, his chief rival for his party's nomination, has strong ties to the black community. But Obama said he felt he could pull black voters away from Clinton once they learn more about him.

"If people know the work I've done as a community organizer, civil rights attorney, state legislator, U.S. senator, I feel confident that I will get a large share of the African-American vote," he said....

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/28/martin.obama/index.html#cnnSTCText