The Obama Bargain  —  Geraldine Ferraro may have had sinister motives when she said that Barack Obama would not be “in his position” as a frontrunner but for his race.  Possibly she was acting as Hillary Clinton's surrogate.  Or maybe she was simply befuddled by this new reality …

FIRST THOUGHTS: OBAMA'S BIG SPEECH  —  From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray  —  *** Obama's big speech: The last time a top presidential candidate gave an important speech on a sensitive topic was last December, when Mitt Romney talked about American faith.  His speech drew favorable reviews …

The Speech  —  Alas, I cannot give a more considered response right now as I have to get on the road.  But I do want to say that this searing, nuanced, gut-wrenching, loyal, and deeply, deeply Christian speech is the most honest speech on race in America in my adult lifetime.

Full Text Of Obama's Big Race Speech: A Big Break With Political Precedent  —  We have a full transcript of Obama's big race speech for you after the jump.  He's set to deliver it in Philadelphia within moments.  —  Reading it, you can't escape the fact that in various ways it represents …

The speech  —  He hasn't started speaking yet here in Philly, but Drudge just busted the embargo, so I've posted the text after the jump.  —  It's quite a speech: autobiographical, embracing complexity, and answering questions about Wright — whose most offensive words, he says …

Obama: We can move beyond some of our racial wounds  —  PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (CNN) — Sen. Barack Obama said Tuesday he chose to run for president because he believes “we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together.”  —  Speaking to supporters …

CHECKING IN WITH THE OTHER SIDE....I thing we can safely assume that Barack Obama's supporters will all swoon over his speech today.  And why not?  It was, as usual for him, a helluva good address: intelligent, sane, sympathetic, and broadly appealing.  He didn't, however …