Barack Obama is ready to be America's first black president because he is prepared to tell uncomfortable truths even to his closest relatives, according to his half sister.
Maya Soetoro-Ng, who grew up with the Democratic White House frontrunner in Hawaii and Indonesia, has told The Sunday Telegraph her brother exhibited presidential potential even when he dealt with family disputes in his formative years.
Maya Soetoro-Ng is Barack Obama's half sister
And she revealed that their white grandmother, who was thrust to the forefront of the election campaign when Mr Obama used her as an example of a "typical white person" troubled by black men on the streets, had no complaints about the way he described her in his now famous speech on America's racial divide.
In the first comments by a member of the Obama family about the senator from Illinois's approach to racial questions, she said: "Our grandmother loves Barack a great deal and is entirely supportive."
Mr Obama had been accused of using his grandmother, Madelyne Dunham, as an election tool to win support after revelations that his Chicago preacher, the Rev Jeremiah Wright, had spouted anti-American slogans from the pulpit.
In his speech on America's racial divisions, Mr Obama recounted how she had made racial comments that "made me cringe". But his sister, who lives near to their grandmother in Hawaii, says the frankness of these words was typical of Mr Obama's honest approach to life.
"I know that I have only ever known him to tell the truth and he has done this time and again when doing so was difficult," said Ms Soetoro-Ng, who works as a teacher in Honolulu.
"Even when it wasn't convenient or when it would generate discomfort with family, friends, or co-workers.
"I know that in the context of the campaign he has told teachers, car manufacturers, and others the truth even when it was politically inexpedient."
Ms Soetoro-Ng spoke out in the week that race was thrust back to the forefront of the campaign as Americans marked the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King's assassination. She did admit that attacks he has endured from Democratic presidential nomination rival Hillary Clinton and her allies have hurt.
"Of course I feel protective," she said, "but he is so incredibly strong and weathers such storms with so much more grace than I could."
Mr Obama remains the hot favourite to secure the Democratic nomination and raised $40 million last month - twice Mrs Clinton's fundraising figure. Ms Soetoro-Ng said she believes her brother is "able to inspire, understand, and work with people from every corner of the United States".
She went on: "I lived with him during the summer of 1986 and watched him work as an activist and organiser. He mobilised people and moved them with both pragmatism and idealism. He challenged people without being acrimonious. He made people less apathetic.
"He was charismatic, brilliant, and strong and he had the capacity to transform communities, hearts and minds. He saw the many different cultures within out nation in a nuanced manner."
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