Voters have shown interest in political candidates’ college performance because it gives, as the New York Sun notes, “a rare measure of intellect that is immune to political spin.” But the Obama campaign has declined to make public the transcript of the grades he earned as an undergraduate at Columbia University.

Some observers speculate:

that one reason might be the racially charged nature of the election. Mr. Obama has acknowledged benefiting from affirmative action in the past, and details about his academic performance might open him up to critics eager to accuse him, probably unfairly, of receiving a free ride.