Obama Seeks to Add Black Voters

Wall Street Journal ^ | 30 June 2008 | CHRISTOPHER COOPER and SUSAN DAVIS

[shrinkermd]

...For Sen. Obama, the registration initiative is at the fore, especially since the main reason for low black turnout is low registration. The U.S. Census Bureau says that while registered black voters turn out at a rate generally even with white counterparts, qualified African-Americans register at a lower rate nationally -- 68% to 75% for whites. The gap is particularly stark in the battleground state of Florida, where only 53% of eligible blacks were registered in 2004, compared with 71% of whites. In Virginia, it was 58% to 72%.

If Sen. Obama can achieve registration parity, the effect could be significant, since African-Americans traditionally vote Democratic about 90% of the time. Nationally, black turnout at white levels would have meant an additional 1.6 million voters in 2004, narrowing the three million-vote gap separating President Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry. In states and districts with a heavy concentration of black citizens, the gap could have thrown victory to Democrats, including North Carolina, long a Republican stronghold, and currently considered a virtual toss-up by many analysts.

But Sen. Obama's gains among black voters could be offset by a loss among whites. During the Ohio primary, he suffered a big defeat -- and a large number of voters said race helped drive their vote.

If history is a guide, Republican campaigners will likely mount legal challenges to Sen. Obama's voter-registration efforts. Although Democrats aren't shy to litigate, it is Republicans who have generally opposed efforts to make registration procedures easier and have made such legal challenges, along with voter purges, a part of their election-year strategy, especially in close states. They did this in Florida and Ohio in 2000 and 2004 -- unfairly, many Democrats charge.

[normy]

ahh the post racial candidate.

[Sprite518]

Ahh a candidate that is above race.... Yeah right....

[Vigilanteman]

He’s going to improve on the 110% turnout in places like Philadelphia and St. Louis?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Here's irony for you: Senator Barack Obama supports abortion-on-demand, up to and including killing an infant that has survived an abortion, but if those millions of black babies had been allowed to live since 1973, Obama would win in a landslide this Fall! Hoist on his own petard, as it were!!

[TomGuy]

McCain has a problem -- he tends to ignore 2 groups: Conservatives and Black Republicans.

While not exactly endorsing Obama, several prominent Black Republicans have indicated that they 'might' vote for him.

[You can bet many Black Republicans will -- this being their first opportunity to vote for a presidential candidate who is Black and who has a significant possibility of winning the White House.]

Black Republicans have no place to go but to Obama?

As Obama moves to the center/right (shades of Clinton 1992), McCain continues to reach out to those center/left of center.

[Jeff Head]

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA WILL CHANGE THE WROLD

THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH ABOUT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA

[johnny7]

“A case... for Obama.”

[johnny7]

[RetiredArmy]

Tomorrow it will be to register all convicted felons to vote. Wednesday he will push to register all illegal aliens. Thursday he will push to register all unregistered Hispanics of Cuban origin. And, on happy Friday, he will seek to decertify anyone who says they are conservative voters. By the weekend, he should have the election wrapped up as the MSM has already lead us to believe. He only needs to be sworn in according to the MSM. No need for the election. The MSM has SELECTED both candidates for this election, and Obama selected as winner.

[TomGuy]

Ahh a candidate that is above race

During the early months of his campaign, Obama was 'above race'.

Then, when Clinton began picking up primary wins, Team Obama discovered the Race Card -- and used it. They used it, and used it effectively, against Clinton and even against McCain.

Initially after winning the nomination, Team Obama continued to use the Race Card against McCain.

It works.

They will continue to use it against McCain until the November election.

Because it still works.

[Jeff Head]

More like the Audacity of Marxism...maybe entitled, The Audacity of Barack Marx, or, The Audacity of Karl Obama ..., or, simply as you have it with his picture and The Audacity of Marxism.

Black Liberation Theology, which he has subscribed to for over 20 years was founded on MArxism with a religous construct over the top of it.

[STONEWALLS]

...life must be drudgery for a Dem ward heeler....first you gotta go down to the hood and round up a bunch of minority folks half of which don’t even have an address, and get ‘em registered....then, come election day you gotta find ‘em where ever they happen to be “staying”** at the time....then you gotta drive them to the polls and make sure they vote the Dem ticket....then you gotta tip them 5 bucks for “cab fare” or give a half pint...what a hassle! ....about like herding cats....and in return, you get paid off by getting a clerk’s job down at the school board.

**
Q...Say bro’, where you live?
A...Oh I “stays” down in the projects.

[mathurine]

And in an October surprise, the Supreme Court will rule that all the Moes in Gitmo can vote, also.

[Jane Austen]

Yep, Obama is willing to play the race card.

[2banana]

In Philadelphia, in certain black precincts, turn out is usually 98-100% in elections.

[johnny7]

Black Liberation Theology, which he has subscribed to for over 20 years
was founded on MArxism with a religous construct over the top of it.

[Dr. Ursus]

Five Dollars and a Ham Sandwich-hold the mustard on the cemetery vote!

[TexasCajun]

Hoist on his own petard,

Indeed. (now that I looked it up)

[yankeedame]

And win or lose he will continue to use it after November.

Because it works.

Because far too many people let it.

"You can't be a doormat unless you lie down first."