Please, do be specific. What was the first "specifically turned the personal attacks to race" event?
Bill Shaheen raised the issue of Obama's drug use, Sen. Kerrey raised the issue of the secular Madrassa and Andrew Cuomo referenced "shuck and jive."
The Cuomo comment occurred at the same time as the Jesse Jackson Jr. comment about Hillary's tears. Here's a link:
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary. do?diaryId=4126
Of course, there are other people who follow the timetable of these events more closely than I do. To me, it looks like we just kind of slid into the racist overtones a little step at a time.
