Chandler responded to complaints about Obama’s inexperience with a historical comparison.

“Seems to me, we elected a president once before from Illinois who had only two years of experience in the House of Representatives,” said Chandler. “And Abraham Lincoln went on to make a pretty fair president I think.”

Libby Marshall, of Frankfort, a retired public interest attorney who is canvassing for Obama and traveled to Ohio to work for his campaign before that state’s primary, sees the race a lot differently from Hargis.

“The defining issue for me is the independence of Sen. Obama from special interests in Washington,” Marshall said. “He has refused to finance his campaign with money from special interests. No other candidate has made that kind of commitment to be independent of influence so he can be accountable solely to the American people.”

Marshall echoed Mongiardo’s comments about the reception she’s received as she’s canvassed for Obama.

“We’ve seen a mixed reaction,” she said. “But I have not seen any overt racism.” She paused, but then said, “Just say I have not seen any overt racism.”

Dan Armstrong has. The 71-year-old white social worker from Frankfort said he canvassed 40 households in Frankfort recently and received a friendly reception at only two.