“I thought that he talked about race the way an adult would talk about it, and it was the first time an American politician did that. And he treated the people as adults. Although we will not know for a while how the speech was received, I think that it speaks well to his ability to react under pressure, to deal with difficult issues, and to treat the public as a partner in trying to find answers to difficult questions.”

Mark Schlesinger, Cranbury

“I think Sen. Obama mentioned a lot of things that should have been mentioned years ago, but have not been. It’s hard to tell the effect of the speech, however. Some people are focusing on just parts of it, like whether he should have been harder on the Rev. Wright. For me, I have not made a choice, but that speech is something that would tip me in his direction.”

Danielle Gordon, Princeton

“I was angry at first that he did not come down harder on the Rev. Wright. It is, however, a very complex subject, and no matter what he said or how he said it, it could be a very fruitful beginning of a discussion on the matter. As to its impact on him, it is yet to be seen — it could go either way.”

Lucy Mackenzie, Princeton

“It was a very impressive speech, really amazing, and I wish that I could vote for him. My mother in Brazil told me that people there were very excited about it. Will it help him? For people who think about his words, and understand them, I am sure that it will.”

Regina Manheimer, Princeton

“We think that it was very sincere, real and true — something that you do not see from politicians. It was a realistic point of view and it wasn’t sugar coated, which is refreshing. Some may object to the speech, but the net effect will be positive. That is what we are hoping.”

Forough Ghaharmani of Princeton, left, and Marjan Ghaharmani with her daughter, Afsoon Safabakash, both of Yardley, Pa.