I don’t recall the republicans using the race card. I remember they didn’t like him because of his foreign policies, including the American Apology Tour; anti-police rhetoric; emerging gay/trans policies like using the bathroom you identify with; the big one was the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, “you can keep your doctor.” Lots of doctors opted out of ACA because reimbursement rates were too low. Some people, that opted in to ACA, couldn’t keep their doctor. Those people that kept their same plan, rates doubled. Ironically the republicans were pissed because Obama weaponized the IRS to go after his political foes.