Are Black Voters Smarter?
This is a response to an earlier post. For one, I will answer NO. The difference is the Black DEMOCRATIC voters tend to vote as a BLOC. There is less division among Black voters according to ideology. Which means Black voters are least likely to be divided over labels such as 'liberal', 'moderate', 'progressive', 'conservative', 'centrist', etc. The difference in this year's campaign with the presence of Obama does have a significant impact due to the fact that he is LABELED as Black but also because he is successfully mobilizing younger voters as a BLOC. Across racial lines. So, are Black voters smarter? Again, I say no. But Barack Obama has organized a smarter campaign using a smarter strategy then his rivals. And most exit polls indicate his voting BLOC tends to be 'smarter' as well. Call it 'elitist' or 'uppity' if you will but playing the 'uppity negro' card is not a smart strategy but rather stupid and archaic.
I just looked it up and this is what I found:
Percentages:
1992 Group Clinton Bush Perot
White 87 39 41 21
Black 8 83 10 7
Hispanic 2 61 25 14
Asian 1 31 55 15
It shows that black voters only made up 8%.
I know this election will show MUCH different numbers.
White 83 44 46 9
Black 10 84 12 4
Hispanic 5 73 21 6
Asian 1 44 48 8
What was Clinton's margin of victory in 1992?
43/37.4%.
Some people were talking about 'sacrificing' the Black vote. Okay. Take away 8% of that vote from Clinton in 1992 and where does that leave you? Give it to Bush.
Bush 45
Clinton 35.
Perot still the same. Difference now is those Independents who voted for Perot still do not belong to Clinton. Black voters still vote overwhelmingly Democratic. Regardless of if the candidate is black or white. Its newer Black voters which are putting Obama over Clinton. What people dont realize is how many newly registered Black voters are attributed to grass-roots organizing especially on college campuses.
Clinton is not reaching these voters now trying to appeal to white blue collar voters.
Have you ever been to Buckhead? Part of John Lewis's district. One of the richest in Atlanta. Cavassing last week I only saw one sign. For Obama. It seems Clinton has made a classic mistake. Taking the 'Black vote' for granted. Or dismissing it altogether.