As for whether or not Barbour can survive a higher-profile controversy on the question of his racial views, it’s worth recalling that a lot of people thought there was no way candidate Barack Obama could survive the controversy over his former minister Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s incendiary YouTube oratory during the Democratic primaries. But then Obama gave his famous race speech and proved that an extraordinary orator and gifted politician can figure his way out of a political tight spot that would trap a less talented figure. Barbour is uniquely positioned, given his history and the history of his state, to give a speech that also touches on themes of racial reconciliation, should he wish to, and that could even elevate his candidacy, should he run.
