Just how important is Obama's race, anyway?

John Heilemann has an article in New York on how race is an unspoken factor in the opposition to Barack Obama. Fair enough, but I'm almost positive he's worried far too much and coming from a skewed perspective. Take the following quote:

In a number of key swing states, the percentage of voters who backed Clinton and who said that “the race of the candidates” was “important” in their decision was alarmingly high: in New Jersey, 9; in Ohio and Pennsylvania, more than 11.

9% is alarmingly high? Tell that to any American in 1962. That number seems quite low, considering how controversial race still is today. And how many that 9-11% would be voting for a Democrat under any circumstances?

I don't understand how pundits worried about Obama not having a 20-percentage point lead see this as proof he can't win. (For the record, Heilemann has never believed Obama could win).

Why Barack Obama Isn't Doing Better In The Polls [New York]