Hull's campaign imploded after unsealed divorce papers alleged he had struck his ex-wife and threatened to kill her. Obama received 53 percent of the vote in the first round.
By June, Obama held a double-digit lead over the Republican challenger Jack Ryan, and then Ryan's campaign also collapsed. Previously sealed divorce papers revealed that he had tried to force his ex-wife to go to sex clubs and allow others to watch them have sex. After pressure from state Republicans, Ryan dropped out.
The Republicans had difficulty finding a contender so late. Then, this month, Keyes said he had "a moral obligation" to run against Obama's record on abortion, gun control and taxes.
Critics say the Republicans' choice of Keyes was cynical and tokenistic. "They know they can't win so they are trying to bloody Obama," says Muwakkil.
Others disagree. "Some people think the Republicans were trying to be cute by picking another black guy," says Tom Roeser, a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. "I think Alan wants to make it clear that Obama doesn't represent African Americans and there are more choices out there."
RSS