Michael Koby I think race has little to do with it. If Obama was white, most of the people voting against him would still do so, as race has nothing to do with it (it's largely his economic policies people have issues with).
For a more specfiic example look at 2004 for example. The democrats needed a candidate that could beat Bush. Kerry and Bush were neck and neck in the polls. Bush eventually won (both the electoral and popular votes). A large percent of the people who dislike Bush now disliked him in 2004. Now according to many (including republicans) Bush didn't meet expectations in his second term either. So now it's safe to say that more people dislike Bush than in 2004. If more people dislike Bush and the republican party than in 2004, why are all the polls show McCain and Obama in a neck and neck race? Some people vote their party for the reasons that J.P. mentioned above, others vote party because they believe in the general ideals of the party.
For a more specfiic example look at 2004 for example. The democrats needed a candidate that could beat Bush. Kerry and Bush were neck and neck in the polls. Bush eventually won (both the electoral and popular votes). A large percent of the people who dislike Bush now disliked him in 2004. Now according to many (including republicans) Bush didn't meet expectations in his second term either. So now it's safe to say that more people dislike Bush than in 2004. If more people dislike Bush and the republican party than in 2004, why are all the polls show McCain and Obama in a neck and neck race? Some people vote their party for the reasons that J.P. mentioned above, others vote party because they believe in the general ideals of the party.