I'll agree the republicans are not 'anti black' but most of the evangelicals that bush brought into the party are. And the republicans know how to play that to there advantage.I'll admit the colour of the mans skin is a factor.Is it the most important factor? No.Sure the republicans could have put forward a black candidate but it would have been someone like Alan Keyes who is an idiot, also there religious 'base' probably wouldn't vote him. They would stay at home in large numbers they would have done the same to McCain had he not reduced himself to pandering to them.The republican Party is going to go through what all political parties have to sooner or later an identity crisis. Why do you think so many moderate Republicans have distanced themselves from the campaign the evangelicals that Bush needed to get the presidency have too much power, a McCain loss would allow the other side of the party to gain some control back from them,but they'll fight hard the Evangelicals want Sarah Palin to run again in 2012 and by looking at her also distancing herself from the campaign you can see she's starting the campaigning early.