Sen. Barack Obama’s prime time message last night was more than a last-minute, long-form political ad: it was his last opportunity to deal with all the rumors and rhetoric and crystallize his message into a nugget the electorate can take with them into the voting booth. The special was well-done and theatrical at times, emotional and tear-jerking in some places, like the chief battle-ground states, where the polls are reporting a surge of Obama support. He needed this time I think, and smart money would have put Sen. John McCain right after him or a night ahead or behind in the same slot. Instead, the McCain campaign is squeezing sour grapes and trying to figure out how to stop Obama’s momentum. I think last night was Obama’s last chance to make a convincing, emotional closing argument, and he did just that.

Here in the state of Ohio, Jay-Z and Lebron James hosted an event to support Obama, and the audience was rapt at attention, watching the program before Hova gave a free concert. Yes, I think Obama is making a hard press to the hole, as he should, and McCain can’t stop the rush. He is being out-gunned, out-spent, out-thought and out-done at every turn. But the election is not in the bag by a long shot. Stranger things happen than popular candidates losing the race. Obama did a good job of convincing his base to stay the course, all the way into the election booth, and make a difference. What do you think?

How did Obama’s prime-time special affect the race for president?  Tell us here.

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(*The views contained herein are solely the views of their respective authors, and do not express the views of TV One.  TV One does not take responsibility for their content.)

A Barack Obama presidency would be historic in many ways—it would also require a historic, unprecedented security detail. Two credible threats against Obama have yeilded arrests—one just yesterday in Tennessee, one during the summer– and it makes me wonder how we would protect him and his family if he became president. I wonder if his wife and children could enjoy the same type of exposure as the Carter Clan, who famously put his family out front—I doubt it. But yet and still, we don’t a president living in fear and paranoia, but we have to concede that not everyone is excited about the prospect of having a Black president. It’s been a common conversation in barbershops and beauty salons all across Black America, and we all shudder at the thought.

It’s true that America has changed and our view of race and racism has changed, but in a lot of ways it hasn’t. There are still pockets of prejudice and ignorance in this country. Barack would need to be a president of the people, as that is largely how he has branded his campaign. So we don’t want his security detail to impede his range of motion, but we do what the government to be aware that the run-on-the-mill Secret Service security is not going to cut it. If Obama becomes president, he will require round the clock, armed security. Everywhere.

How will security issues affect an Obama presidency?  Tell us here.

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(*The views contained herein are solely the views of their respective authors, and do not express the views of TV One.  TV One does not take responsibility for their content.)