Poll Finds Steele May Be Magnet for Black Voters

The Washington Post ^ | 4/6/2006 | Matthew Mosk

[George - the Other]

An internal document prepared by a top Democratic strategist warns that a majority of African American voters in Maryland are open to supporting Republican Senate candidate Michael S. Steele and advises the party not to wait to "knock Steele down."

The 37-page report says a sizable segment of likely black voters -- as much as 44 percent -- would readily abandon their historic Democratic allegiances "after hearing Steele's messaging."

"Governor Ehrlich and [Lt. Gov.] Michael Steele have a clear ability to break through the Democratic stronghold among African American voters in Maryland," says the March 27 report by Cornell Belcher, polling consultant for the Democratic National Committee, which bases its findings on a survey of 489 black voters in Maryland conducted last month.

The report, given to The Washington Post this week, drills into a topic that has emerged as a key focus of this year's U.S. Senate contest in Maryland: race.

In 2002, Steele became the first African American elected to statewide office in Maryland, and he has designed his Senate campaign to cut into the black support that has traditionally flocked to Democrats.

Maryland Democratic Party Executive Director Derek B. Walker said the study verified what, internally, party strategists had already concluded: that African American voters who have served as a reliable base for generations cannot be taken for granted.

[George - the Other]

Go Michael!

This is the second time in as many days that the liberal Washington Post has talked about problems in the Maryland Democrat Party ... Be still my heart!

[pikachu]

"after hearing Steele's messaging."

I just love to see the benefits of an Ivy League liberals arts education that didn't stick.

[Uncle Hal]

Gee, a black voter voting for a candidate because he is black. Who would have guessed?

[Alexander Rubin]

Go Steele go!

[antonico]

Yeah - and all this after Maryland Demon-rats passed a bill in the state legislature to open polling places ONLY in their most heavily populated districts 5 days prior to an election!

Limbaugh is right again: the left can't win in the arena of ideas, so they have to vote early & often to keep whatever hold on offices that they have.

[lawgirl]

I have been talking about Steele since he stole the show at the RNC in 2004--- he's absolutely fabulous and I would back him for president in a minute.

[jazusamo]

It would be interesting to know how many of the voters in this poll that are open to voting for him were influenced in some way by the two staff personell of Schumer's that illegally obtained his credit report.

[the Real fifi]

Shouldn't the headline be Dems Target Black Senate Candidate?

[colorcountry]

Poll Finds Steele May Be Magnet

Now I remember why I'm drawn to this headline...

" Now I told you, so you ought to know "

" It takes some time for a feeling to grow "

" You are so close now, I can't let you go "

" And I can't let go "

" With you at my side "

" To show you the way I feel "

" With you at my side "

" My secrets to reveal "

" For you are the magnet and I a steel "

[George - the Other]

"It would be interesting to know how many of the voters in this poll that are open to voting for him were influenced in some way by the two staff personell of Schumer's that illegally obtained his credit report."

Another factor is that a number of months ago, Maryland Democrat US Senate Candidate, former US Congressman and NAACP Director, Kwesi M'Fume, complained publically that the Maryland Democrat party was racist and working against him in favor of Ben Cardin.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/1/1/135232/5034