Barack Obama's stunning victory in the Iowa caucuses and narrow second-place finish in the New Hampshire primary last week are raising hopes that America is finally moving past the divisive issue of race.

Even though Obama supporters were disappointed at his unexpected loss to Hillary Clinton in the Granite State by 39 percent to 36 percent, they are quick to point out that he was defeated by a candidate who had led in New Hampshire polls at one time by as much as 20 points.

In Iowa, Obama won an impressive 38 percent of the vote, followed by John Edwards with 30 percent, and Clinton at 29 percent. That prompted an outburst of Obama-mania, with some whites declaring that his showing in a state that is 95 percent white is evidence of the dwindling importance of race.

Some blacks counter that Obama, who is biracial, is successful, in part, because he de-emphasizes race.

Both groups are correct — and incorrect.

Racial tensions do not suddenly evaporate in this nation simply because Obama is engaged in what seems to be quickly developing into a two-person contest to become the Democratic nominee for president. On the other hand, race neither defines nor confines Obama. As he has said: "I'm rooted in the African-American community, but I'm not limited to it."

Obama has demonstrated an uncanny ability to energize first-time voters, attract independents and appeal to those who want to see less political partisanship. He is in the enviable position of giving voters the option of voting for someone instead of against a candidate, which is too often the case in politics.

Trying to force Obama into a racial straitjacket demeans his talent and accomplishments. He has two Ivy League degrees, a bachelor's from Columbia University in 1983, and a law degree from Harvard University in 1991. He was elected president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review.

After graduating from Harvard, Obama worked for a law firm in Chicago that specializes in civil rights, lectured on constitutional law at the University of Chicago, and served in the Illinois state senate from 1997 to 2004. Despite criticism of his being inexperienced, Obama, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004, has served more time in elected office than Clinton. She was first elected to the Senate in 2000.

With such stellar credentials, why does race get introduced into virtually every discussion of Obama? Perhaps because race has been a feature of this nation since its inception.

Eric Foner, former president of the American Historical Association, explained it this way: "Since the earliest days of colonial settlement, race has been a crucial line in the division in American society. For two and a half centuries, the large majority of African-Americans were held in slavery, and even after emancipation were subjected to discrimination in every aspect of their lives. Other minority groups have suffered severe inequities as well. Today, while the nation has made great progress in eradicating the 'color line,' the legacy of slavery and segregation remains alive in numerous aspects of American society."

Writing in The Wall Street Journal, Jonathan Kaufman said that many whites view Obama's candidacy as an opportunity to get past the past.

Obama's candidacy is more than a referendum on race. Like any other candidate for president, he must prove he can lead the country. However, in strictly political terms, John Edwards, a white male, might represent the party's best chance of retaking the White House.

For almost 50 years — since the election of John F. Kennedy in 1960 — only three Democrats have occupied the White House: Lyndon B. Johnson, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. All of them had something in common: Each was a Southerner.

Edwards' geographical roots have not sustained his candidacy. After a second-place finish in Iowa, the former senator from North Carolina finished a distant third in New Hampshire.

With voters going to the polls in almost two dozen states on Feb. 5, this presidential contest is far from over. There is no assurance that Obama will regain his momentum and emerge as his party's nominee. But as we speed through this front-loaded primary season, there is something heartening about America's willingness to rally around a candidate because of his ideas and not exclude him from consideration because of his race.

George E. Curry, a former Washington correspondent and New York bureau chief for the Chicago Tribune, was editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine. Reach him at gcurry@phillynews.com.