Negative Ads Hit at Identity to Shape Race for Presidency

As the presidential campaign has become a clash over a host of issues — from tax cuts to foreign diplomacy to claims of words taken out of context — Mitt Romney, President Barack Obama and their allies have started trading accusations over a much more delicate and personal question: Are you an American like me?

Their choice of words and imagery is a reminder of how powerful undercurrents of identity, wealth, race and religion are shaping this election. These surface in subtle and not-so-subtle ways as two candidates who can have trouble connecting with voters on a personal level try to define each other as detached from mainstream American life. Neither candidate is accusing the other of sending subliminal signals over race or religion. And the language on the campaign trail is a far cry from the overt efforts to make religion a wedge issue — like the campaign by Rep Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and other Republican members of Congress to ferret out what they say is an Islamic extremist influence in government. Rather, the Obama and Romney campaigns seem conscious of the dangers of going too far.