[HoosierFather]

In early June, I predicted (in this forum) that Bob Ehrlich would beat KKT by 51-49%. This was based upon the quality of the candidates (he's an very impressive guy; she's a bumbling nucklehead).

Then, after KKT picked the white Republican (Larson) and Ehrlich picked the black Republican (Steele), I changed my prediction to Ehrlich-Steele winning by 52-48%. KKT had clearly offended her base and Ehrlich had engineered a statement of inclusiveness to the black community by picking Steele.

The final results: Ehrlich - 51.4%; KKT - 47.9%; Lancaster (Libertarian) - 0.7%. Not bad political prognostication!

But, I think this article from the Baltimore Sun is very insightful and should be read by all Republican political leadership around the country. The message is that the monolith of the black vote in America is clearly poised for change.

I believe that blacks are finally realizing that the policies of the Democrat party are failing them and their children. They are starting to acknowledge that many Democrat leaders are inherently racist and have little to offer other than the mental slavery derived from government handouts and demogaugic hatred of conservatives and all that is Republican.

Maybe it was the events of 9-11 that brought Americans together, maybe it is the leadership, ethics, and trust of George Bush, maybe it is the internet? Whatever the factors, it should be obvious to most political observers that the black ice of Democrat control of minority voters is beginning to thaw. And, if it can happen in places like Maryland, it can happen nationwide.

Republicans should seize this opportunity to reach out to minotity voters, like Bob Ehrlich did in Maryland. When successful, minority inclusion will solidify the long term dominance of the Republican party, the true party of strength and new ideas, for many decades to come.

[DC native]

Your viewpoint is interesting to me. My take on this is that nothing has been realized here and no changes have occurred in the American psyche. Black people have consistently shown that they are far more interested in the color of someone's skin rather than the content of their character. They voted for Steele, not Erlich, and only because he is black.

[cogitator]

It's an interesting thought, but the statistics still showed a predominantly black vote for KKT (90% +). The main reason she lost was due to significant shift in white women voters from KKT to Ehrlich. Despite his efforts, black voters still didn't/don't trust him. Steele may be able to change that, to an extent, but look at the predominant view of blacks toward Clarence Thomas -- it hasn't changed a whit. (And I didn't meant to write "white".)

Don't want to be discouraging; just realistic.

[oiljake]

the big problem wuth kkt was concete for anyone who isnt a librel and they must totally beleave that the Kennedy name is the best of all things and anyone who dosent go along with that program are low lifes but the Ehrlich Steele team came across as real people who actually care about all residents of Md.

[Gracey]

You were a little off base in your predictions but I'd say you probably underestimated the margin of victory. If the FRAUD (probably largely in Baltimore area) was taken into consideration, I'd say the margin of victory was closer to 5%. Good job.

I cried tears of joy reading this article.

How can we thank Allegra Bennett for letting us know her thoughts? Anyone know her e-mail address?