While no one wants to say it -- because apparently in this country we cannot have a reasonable discussion about race without being called a racist -- race matters.

Just look at the exit polls, in which one in five voters say so.

So is that why Obama is not campaigning in West Virginia? (No, one visit with Sen. Jay Rockefeller does not count as a barnstorming of this key state). Why the concession to Clinton without trying? Is it the downscale white voter 'thing'?

As one high ranking Democratic strategist said privately Obama is only there for one campaign event because he knows she's way ahead and is going to win, and doesn't want to legitimize her victory by making it look like it was truly contested.

University of Virginia political science professor Larry Sabato, who is 95 percent sure that Obama is the Democratic nominee, says the Illinois senator "already knows he is not going to carry West Virginia in November -- or Kentucky."

"(He) has a very different electoral path to the White House--although," Sabato cautions, "in the end, it all may come down to the usual handful of states."

To put this in perspective Obama is probably doing what is politically right from his point of view: pursue the general election strategy and let her exit on her own terms, in her own way, on her own time. In the end, maybe as early as Tuesday night, probably more likely within seven days thereafter he believes she'll do the right thing so that he can have "the reconciliation" be the "huge" story.

You know, pictures of the two happy couples together leading every newspaper front page, all electronic media, etc. strains of Peaches and Herb "Reunited, and it feels so good" playing in the background.

Barack Obama begins and ends his campaign today in Charleston with a speech in front of 1,000 invited guests. He then heads to Missouri Tuesday for a general election campaign stop.

West Virginia polls close at 7:30 p.m. Look for the race to be called for Clinton by 7:30.01.