Obama and his pride

Barack Obama has his pride. He denied over seventy million dolllars from public funding, insisting he can gather up more money privately. Thus, he has gained a celebrity status with his charisma and good looks. Is this race between Obama a debate over the issues such as healthcare, the economy overall, etc. or has it become a popularity contest based on celebrity appeal. What do you think readers. Feel free to comment. I haven't gotten any in quite a while and I'd love to hear from all of you.