Here's how Walker would write it: Obama wins

Alice Walker, author of "The Color Purple" and one of the country's most prominent African-American artists, has made an eloquent four-minute podcast about why she believes Barack Obama is fit to be president. She cites his multi-cultural and multi-national background, as well as his understanding of the world as "complicated but workable." "I feel we desperately need people in leadership who have more of an idea of the real world than any of the people we've had before," she says. (Hat tip to Ben Smith.)

Obama's campaign, meanwhile, just announced the “Embrace the Change” gospel tour across South Carolina next month, designed to build support for Obama among religious voters in the South. The tour features some top gospel names, including the big-selling Mighty Clouds of Joy. Find more details here.