At least Louisiana kept it close.
I've voted for people of all races and ethnicities in my 4 election years starting in 98. I really do not want to agree with you about this, but there's this nagging doubt in the back of my mind as well, and it doesn't apply to just the South. Blacks seem to do well in lower profile mid level and local offices (Sec of State, state rep/senate, State Supreme Court), but do not win senatorial or gubenatorial races. Illinois(Obama/Braun), Virginia(Wilder), and Massachusetts(Ed Brooke) are the only states since reconstruction to do so.
In 1986, Bill Lucas(R) ran for governor in Michigan against incumbent Jim Blanchard(who was ousted in 1990 by then unknown John Engler). Lucas(who was black) was Wayne County Sheriff and switched parties not that long before his gubenatorial run. Now he wasn't our best candidate, but we did not expect a disaster on this level. It was an approximately 67-34% defeat statewide, and a worse thrashing than even what John Engler did to Geoff Fieger(who even lost Ann Arbor). Some of that was the normal democrat vote, but even sacrificial lamb candidate usually hold the democrats under 60%. Keep in mind that most statewide races here are within 5% as well.
We may have a candidate for senate here who is the most qualified individual IMO of those who have announced their candidacy. He happens to be black. I think he has a shot to win, if he can get his message out to people. Can he get the message out, and will people listen? How far as Michigan come since 1986? That's a good question. I know what I'd like the answer to be.
But he was a light - skinned guy from India.
Illinois(Obama/Braun), Virginia(Wilder), and Massachusetts(Ed Brooke) are the only states since reconstruction to do so
Yes, but those examples are either yankee, democrat, or both.