One GOP television commercial in Mississippi featured Obama's controversial former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., and accused a local Democratic House candidate of preferring Obama and Wright "over our conservative values."
Privately, some Republicans say they also hope to raise doubts about Obama's patriotism. McCain's TV ads stress his five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. One GOP operative, speaking on condition of anonymity, said strategists have proposed an ad picturing a series of Democratic politicians, all but one -- Obama -- wearing a U.S. flag pin.
"Here's the tagline: What's he got against the American flag?" the operative said.
Not surprisingly, Obama supporters, who include Kerry, bristle at such talk.
"Let 'em try," the Massachusetts senator said. "I believe they are going to have great difficulty because of Barack Obama's life, and his demeanor, his manner, who he is and what he's done."
Republicans are unlikely to raise the issue of Obama's race, in part because McCain has promised to run what he calls "a respectful campaign." Also, GOP strategists are wary of the potential backlash, particularly among moderate suburban women.
Even if race is not explicitly an issue, historian Robert Dallek said, the black-white divide will inevitably be a factor.
"This is clearly an important moment in the country's history," said Dallek, author of biographies of Presidents Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. "Just 45 years ago, who could have possibly imagined that an African American could have been the nominee of the Democratic Party, which as recently as 1963 was the stronghold of Southern segregation?
"It means this campaign is going to be, in part, a running national conversation about race. You can't escape it.
"But it will also be about Bush," Dallek added. "The Democrats will not for a moment let voters forget that McCain is in the Republican Party, that he will be the third term of an unpopular administration."
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doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com
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peter.wallsten@latimes.com
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Times staff writer Robin Abcarian contributed to this article from Bend, Ore.
