This document discusses race and ethnicity in the context of the 2008 U.S. presidential election. It provides definitions of key terms like race and ethnicity. It also presents census data showing racial disparities in income, poverty rates, and health insurance coverage. Voting statistics by race from 2006 are shown. The document raises critical questions about how race was used in the 2008 election and discusses how some aimed to portray Obama versus the truth about his background. Ways that race could be used positively or negatively in the campaign are outlined.