I was in Tallahassee over the weekend. My sister told me that the Democrats were busing students from Florida A&M (a predominately black university) and from a black section of town to the polls for early voting. The reason you're not seeing the lines is they may have already voted.
On a more hopeful note, I was in Atlanta last night and listened to a black radio station's afternoon talk show. The host was lamenting the fact that many blacks were voting for Bush over moral issues.
About one out of three male callers I heard were supporting the president. One blasted the host about her attitude that blacks should be monolithic and think the same.
Unfortunately, all female callers seemed to reflect the same-old, same-old. Still, I thought this was a positive development and potentially consistent with the assertions I've read that Bush may pick up 18% of the black vote.
Apparently, the pastors in several black churches over the weekend launched into sermons about the need to vote for morality consistent with black values (i.e., vote against unfettered abortion, vote against gay marriage, etc.). I haven't heard anything about this elsewhere. Interesting.
If, by some chance the GOP does break the Democrat lock on the black vote, this election is over.
"If, by some chance the GOP does break the Democrat lock on the black vote, this election is over."
I agree, that would be an extremely positive development. I don't think anyone is expecting Bush to significantly exceed 20% of that voting group, but anything in the high teens would be a big improvement over 2000.
I live on the west side of Atlanta in a predominantly African-American neighborhood. The polls opened at 7am and when I got there at 6:30, there was already a substantial line. I checked my watch as I left the building and it was 8:15. This is my first time voting in this location, but 2 years ago, I walked right in during the middle of the day and had no wait. Of course, that was an "off year". Even taking that into consideration, it looks to me like turnout here will be very heavy.