People love the idea of Barack Obama, because he's a black man (well, half black) who doesn't rely on the politics of resentment toward whites and society in general, the way most prominent black politicians do.
I think the “economist” got it right when they called him a “post racial politician”, he (like Harold Ford, Lyn Swann or… who was the guy from Oklahoma?) doesn’t allow his race to define his politics like previous Black politicians.
As to his appeal its pretty simple, he’s charismatic, photogenic and independently minded all while not seeming ideologically “abrasive”. I would not say he’s “very” liberal, he is certainly liberal but no more so than say Kerry, Edwards et-al…
