There was a very interesting piece drawing from social science research on race and politics I read today:
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?i d=76d4881e-d014-4dd6-b732-8adef23f68f4

And the same author worked from similar research to argue that Obama can get white women to vote for him, that it's white men that are most moved by racial appeals http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?i d=8871d274-8b04-4d9d-9da4-6e20cc1768d1