March 2, 2006

ANOTHER LOCKBOX WE NEED TO RAID:

Black vote no longer a lock for Democrats (Jon Ward, March 2, 2006, THE WASHINGTON TIMES)

Black voters' loyalty to the Democratic Party is no longer a certainty in Maryland, especially among young independent voters, several black leaders say.

"We might be the last generation of unabashed loyalists to the Democratic Party," state Senate Majority Leader Nathaniel J. McFadden of Baltimore says. "The Democratic Party is no longer a monolith for the African-American community."

Rep. Albert R. Wynn of Prince George's County warns his party's leaders that "black voters can no longer be taken for granted."

Of course, until they start voting Republican again in appreciable numbers the Democrats will just take them for granted.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 2, 2006 9:51 AM
Comments

Unless they're trying to goad the GOP into expending resources courting a group that isn't going to vote for their candidates, period.

Posted by: AC at March 2, 2006 10:48 AM

The GOP is actually running stellar black candidates in several states in 2006 - and who exactly do the Democrats have? Cynthia McKinney? John Conyers (presumably now under investigation for padding his office)? William Jefferson? Barbara Lee? Sheila Jackson Lee?

Even Barack Obama is starting to grate. Harold Ford is sinking, and we don't even count Al Sharpton. And what would the Dems do if Harry Belafonte decided to run for Congress? Why, they would boost him, of course.

Bush and Ken Mehlman will see results. So will the Democrats.

Posted by: jim hamlen at March 2, 2006 11:23 AM

AC - I agree that it appears the recent GOP outreach efforts haven't led to increased vote percentages from African-Americans. But you gotta think that eventually, assuming the GOP don't don the white hoods, that african-americans will vote more along their poll results (i.e. closer to 50-50) than the 90-10 Democrat as now.

Posted by: AWW at March 2, 2006 1:14 PM

Blacks'll keep voting Democratic in Maryland. And Maryland will remain a blue state for a long, long time.

Posted by: jsmith at March 2, 2006 11:25 PM
« BUSINESS AS USUAL: | Main | IT'S ALMOST TOO BAD HILLARY WILL NEVER BE PRESIDENT »