“Frankly, when you take a look at Colin Powell, you have to wonder whether that’s an endorsement based on issues or whether he’s got a slightly different reason for preferring President Obama,” the cantankerous Sununu told Piers Morgan.

“What reason would that be?” asked Morgan. Sununu responded: “Well, I think when you have somebody of your own race that you’re proud of being president of the United States, I applaud Colin for standing with him.”

Sununu, a Mitt Romney adviser, is predictably being flayed alive. He’s a “race-baiting buffoon,” according to Washington Post blogger Jonathan Capehart, one of the many. But it might be worth taking a closer look at the question. About 97 percent of black voters are supporting Obama, according to polling data. Is it really possible to achieve that much skew purely on an analysis of a candidate’s policies? Why is it, then, that the rest of America is evenly divided? Note that it has been no secret for years that many blacks are proud to see one of their own rise to the presidency. Long screeds have been written about Obama’s election being a sort of black catharsis.

But also note another parallel: The mainstream media and others have also made hay with the suggestion that Mormons would vote en masse for Romney because he shares their religion. Isn’t that pretty much the same thing? Perhaps it’s time to admit that one’s similarity to a candidate can influence a vote — whether race, religion, sex, state of residence or any of countless other characteristics.