US elections, minority candidates, and role models?

Question

Is it true that any ethnic minority candidate who wishes to run for the US House of Representatives, the Senate, or the White House would, to some extent, be expected to act as a role model for his own group, and to act as a bridge between his own group and the mainstream, political, White majority?

Is this one of the "unwritten" rules of US elections and is it true that ethnic minority candidates are usually elected on the assumption they would satisfy such a criteria?

Di · Accepted Answer

Voters generally support the candidate who appeals to their upbringing, background, morality, values system and needs.

Voters will therefore tend to support those they most closely identify with and, who will be seen to be able to reinforce who they are and what they stand for.

A Voice of Reason · Answer

Generally, yes, though I'm not sure how much longer this will last.

US elections, minority candidates, and role models?

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