... to ruin Obama's chances of winning the general election?

Speaking with foreigners, most seem to perceive America as a nation where the largest portion of its populace (the WASPs) is still at least subconsciously racist.

I always thought modern racism was conserved to a very small portion of the South, but after the Pastor's comments, and the fact that there are still a good portion of voters who grew up before the MLK Jr era, it makes me wonder if this outside viewpoint isn't so far off the mark in this "us vs them mentality".

Now yes, yes, I know, plenty of white people support him, I'm one of them. I also realize that perhaps the majority (completely unfounded "fact" but I'll say it anyway) distrust the Republicans at the moment and that most Americans want to escape memories of the Bush administration ASAP and that his chances are naturally high due to his message and charisma alone.

I have never really experienced any sort of racism firsthand... I grew up in Germany, mostly in US military schools where the student populace is a bit more varied (yet more harmonious, since we're all in the same situation and don't have time to form up the race/geek/jock/etc. cliques like you see in most other high schools) compared to normal ones.

About the only form of racism in Germany nowadays is a sense of unease towards the large influx of Turkish immigrants, but that's it. In fact, the biggest social issue is probably west Germans looking down upon east Germans (the east in Germany is considered like what white trailer trash is in America, as compared to the more cosmopolitan west). I hate to use this line because it sounds like I'm trying to prove something but a good deal of my friends are black.

It's just hard for me to believe that race is still such a big issue, whether in a positive or negative manner.

Do any of you have opinions or perhaps hands-on anecdotes that relate to this matter?