Why Does Race Matter Only in the South?

I was just reading an article in the Tennessean about the U.S. Senate race here and was somewhat taken aback by the article's tone that HFjr could lose because he is Black and that it indicative of Southern racism. A curious linkage that somehow the pundit class has not extended to the Maryland senate race (Michael Steele); the Pennsylvania governor race (Lynn Swann); the Ohio governor race (Ken Blackwell), the Massachusetts governor race (Deval Patrick).

Why do the punditry insist on charging racism if Tennesseans do not elect HFjr, but think racism does not exists if Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Massachusetts, do not elect Steele or Swann or Blackwell or Patrick?

Five African-Americans are running for statewide office this year. Yet the only one were race is the preoocupation is Tennessee. Neither Maryland or Pennsylvania have elected Blacks statewide, but of course, they are Northern states and racism does not exist in the North. LOL!