GOP and black voters: How wide the divide?

Why aren't things better?
Considering the number of changes the GOP trumpets on behalf of black Americans, the question’s inescapable: Why haven’t these signs of “progress” resonated with more black Americans?

Racicot was forthright about the party's rocky past and present relationship with African Americans. “I think presumptions and traditions apply, regardless of ethnic background or cultural identity,” he said.

“Are there still continuing challenges we have to address every day? The answer is yes. There’s been a long period of history where we were not as careful and sensitive as we could have been as a party,” he said. “As a consequence, the relationship between black Americans and the Republican Party did not grow and expand.

“But we’re taking a multifaceted approach to make certain every American has the opportunity to live the American dream.”

Upbeat, downbeat
Some aspects of Republican philosophy do register broadly with black Americans. A 2003 poll by Black America's Political Action Committee, a Washington-based black conservative think tank, found that 65 percent of African American voters believe affirmative action should be reformed. Forty-three percent of blacks feel the Democratic Party has taken them for granted.

A 2003 poll found that black voters gave Bush a 33 percent job approval rating — down from 41 percent rating the year before, in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

But other data underscore the GOP’s challenge to breaking through. The poll, the most recent available, found that black voters gave Bush a 33 percent overall job approval rating — down from 41 percent the year before, in the wake of Sept. 11.

Only 22 percent of black voters polled approve of Bush's handling of the economy, and 48 percent back his prosecution of the war on terrorism.

Separate from snapshot polling figures, there’s the more enduring practical matter of jobs on Capitol Hill — not as interns, but as officeholders.

CHRIS MATTHEWS 'Hardball's' blog

“Finding and grooming blacks to run for office — that is a difficult challenge,” Williams said. “It's perhaps the greatest task facing the Republican Party. [House Majority Leader Tom] DeLay said that when the GOP is able to help black candidates win, only then will the party begin to regain some authority on the issues of race and civil rights.”

Williams nonetheless made a bold election forecast: “I'll predict [Bush] will get 12 to 15 percent of the black vote in November.”

His optimistic prediction for 2004's black turnout for Republicans is well above the 9 percent of African Americans who voted for Bush four years ago.

Michael E. Ross is author of “Interesting Times: Essays and Nonfiction.” MSNBC's Pat Anastasi in Washington and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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