Well that or "What someone influential in Obama's life was a Republican/Conservative?", or "WI Obama becomes disenfranchised by the Democratic Party?" or something more simple than completely reordering reality just to fit THE OBAMA into the Republican Party.
Because really, political beliefs aren't THAT hard to change, alter, or whatever over time, specially throughout our early lives, as apparently some people seem to believe. That or to become disenfranchised by decisions, stances, or whatever by the party one currently follows.
Because doesn't these sort've questions necessitate the idea that said individual doesn't share the beliefs of the OTL version?? So what needs to be changed is not the party itself, but the individual....
But I digress, back to the original discussion....
If he was a Republican, he'd be called an "Uncle Tom", or a "House Negro" by the Left, (like they do to most Black Republicans/Conservatives, oddly enough) would probably be seen as a racial traitor by a SEEMING majority of the Black Community, who are seemingly tied at the hip with the Democratic Party at times.
Now as to whether or not he'd get an presidential nomination? Who knows, the Republicans would possibly see this as a chance to show that they aren't the "Racist, Sexist, Bigotted Homophobes" that the Political Left loves to portray them as, at times, in the media. But that still wouldn't save him from being portrayed as an "Oreo" by said media if he were to get the nomination. It'd be MUCH different than how they treat him in the OTL, that's for sure. Which is sad when you really think about it.
e_e *grumbles*