You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but I do think that Obama practicing an African-based traditional religion would be -less- harmful than a declaration of atheism. Because freedom of religion is an engrained principle, and he would at least get a majority of the liberal vote; however, I have many hardcore liberal friends who simply would never vote for an atheist.

Judeo-Christian religion is obviously the most privileged, but I contend that in that social hierarchy, all other "minority" religions are privileged over open atheism. (Closet atheism/agnosticism is another matter entirely; the policy is akin to "don't ask, don't tell.")