The American Spectator

Others were still undecided between the two leading candidates, and admired them both.

“It would be a plus for our country if we could get both of them in the White House,” said Earl Halls of Eutawville. “I like Clinton because she knows more about the presidency because of her husband, and Obama, I like him because he seems to have a good voice for what needs to be done.”

If there is any residual animosity toward Hillary Clinton for the way she has conducted her campaign against Obama, it is likely to dissipate by the time November rolls around.

For one thing, should he lose in the primaries, Obama himself would probably work hard to encourage black voters to turn out for Clinton in the general election, because he wants to remain in the party’s good graces so he can win the Democratic nomination in a future election cycle.

Though Clinton and Obama got personal in Monday’s debate, at the rally that morning, Obama was gracious. “I want to acknowledge my outstanding competitors and my partners in the Democratic Party,” he said of Clinton and John Edwards, demonstrating that he’s able to suck up his problems with Hillary when the ceremony demands it.

And ultimately, as the parade of speeches at the NAACP-sponsored rally indicated, on key issues such as the Iraq War, education, health care, and taxes, black voters line up much more closely with the Democratic candidates, so they are likely to support whoever the nominee is, as they have done traditionally.

If the mood here on Monday is any indication, reports of a race war engulfing the Democratic Party were highly exaggerated.