Politics | Barack Obama Obama Success Rewrites the Rules on Race In the fact of Barack's campaign, some already see a victory By Zach Samalin Posted Dec 29, 2007 9:30 AM CST Copied Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at a campaign event Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007, in Mason City, Iowa. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) (Associated Press) With only three black US Senators and two black governors elected since Reconstruction, and the vast majority of black politicians representing predominately black communities, veteran race watchers anticipated another decade before a candidate of color could be a top contender for the Oval Office. But that was before Obama. The Washington Post examines how Barack's unprecedented crossover success has changed thinking among black political leaders. Jesse Jackson, who carried 13 primaries and caucuses when he ran in 1988, says Obama's success reveals more about white Americans than black: "We have not changed, African Americans. White America is changing, in many ways. There is, in a real sense today, a new generation of possibilities." Read These Next The Air Force has changed its tune on Ashli Babbitt. Details trickle out on 2 more victims of the Minneapolis shooting. Open that wallet big time for a trip to Disney, if you can afford it. A 'tense' clash with RFK Jr. led to CDC chief's trouble. Report an error