Every time I hear reporters asking Barack Obama why he can't capture the blue-collar vote, I'm a bit puzzled. Funny, isn't it, that we can consider the same facts and yet reach conclusions that are poles apart?

Pennsylvania, my former residence, is a blue-collar state with a large number of senior citizens. People who live there like to say it consists of "Philadelphia and Pittsburgh on opposite ends, and Alabama in the middle." This humorous description covers up disturbing facts. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Pennsylvania has 33 hate or separatist organizations, including 5 KKK chapters and 5 Neo-Nazi groups. (Texas, by the way, has 67 hate groups; California has 80; New Jersey has 34, and Florida has 49: guess which candidate also won the popular vote in each of those states?)

So not many Pennsylvanians (certainly not the Governor) were surprised that exit polls found 13 percent of white Democratic voters said race was an important factor in their decision, and three-quarters of them casts ballots for Clinton. As you news hounds may recall, Governor Rendell said before the election that there were many conservative whites who would never vote for a black candidate: "You've got conservative whites here ... who are not ready to vote for an African American candidate. I believe, looking at the returns in my election, that had Lynn Swann been the identical candidate that he was -- well-spoken, charismatic, good-looking but white instead of black -- that instead of winning by 22 points, I would have won by 17 or so. I think there was that factor there. And that exists, but on the other hand, that's counterbalanced by Obama's ability to bring new voters into the electoral pool," Rendell said.

(Obama was not able to bring in the independents - a key constituency - becase they aren't allowed to vote in Pennsylvania state primaries. )

Of course, we should assume that the percentage of voters who believe a candidate's race still matters - but declined to say so publicly - is much higher.  One might build a case, therefore, that racial prejudice gave Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign new energy with the big win in Pennsylvania, which is not a feat I'd want on my resume.

Truth just walked up behind us and tapped us on the shoulder: In this historic election where a black man and white woman are seeking the nation's top office, racists and sexists have a glorious opportunity to energize their cause by organizing and exerting political pressure.

A Republican consultant recently was quoted as saying that if Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee, McCain will start the race with a 15 point advantage. That is because Republicans gleefully estimate 15 per cent of white voters won't support a black candidate.

America is holding the Super Bowl of politics. Yet, in this championship game, Team Obama has to punt from the goal line. While , in Pennsylvania, Team Clinton got to kick from the 9-yard line. So if Team Obama kick ends up 9-yards behind Clinton's team, is that a loss or a tie? If Team Obama's kick ends up at the same spot, is that a win or a tie?

Our opinion stems from our worldview, our principles, and the degree to which we are wedded to self-interest.

If people who harbor racial prejudices or gender issues seize this golden opportunity to become the "great decider" in 2008, what happens after the election when they approach the winning candidate for payback? Inadvertently, this historic campaign might end up empowering their cause.

A friend sent me a comment this morning from Dr. Maia Ajanaku:"If you reject him (Obama) it is not a matter of who will I vote for in the general election this Fall; it is, however, a matter of what shall I tell my children about staying in school and working hard at earning good grades in citizenship as well as academics?"

Even the winners in an election pay a price when the rules are not fair. The mothers and fathers trying to protect their children on the blood-stained streets in Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Houston know this all too well.  Their children are dropping out of the rat race, and using guns as a way to gain respect. Injustice will only fuel their fire.

Can we lure this lost generation back if this historic election is decided by super delegates who fear that the party might lose the votes of the racists in the general election?

Will we protect freedom or party interests?

At lot is at stake, my friends. The calls made by Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama down the home stretch may determine whether Team America marches toward the goal line of justice, or gets thrown for a loss.