Black Voters, Courted and Studied, Could Be a Deciding Factor in Midterms
They have been taken for granted by the Democratic Party, some black voters say. But African-Americans could be the key in a midterm election that Democrats and Republicans agree hinges on the enthusiasm of each party's base.
"In Anticipation of November 2: Black Voters and Candidates and the 2010 Midterm Elections," released on Thursday by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, shows that African-American voters, strategically located in key states and districts, could determine the results in close races.
The research was conducted by David A. Bositis, senior political analyst at the Joint Center, which studies the black electorate. He said this election could echo midterm elections in 1986, when significant black turnout helped Democrats gain House seats and take control of the Senate, and again in 1998, when Democrats picked up governorships in Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia.
