While I may or may not fit into the group you apparently disdain, Americans elected Barrack Obama because, besides connecting better with the average American voter, he was not subjected to the racist hatred that exists to quite the same level that Clinton was subjected to the lies and fake stories by those who wanted Trump elected in order to erase Obama's achievements.  Unlike Clinton, Obama faced honourable opponents who denounced the racism of his supporters.  E.g.  McCain correcting the woman who believed Obama was Arab (not that there's anything wrong with that - right?).   Trump, on the other hand, still encourages his racist supporters, as he did after Charlottesville.