Study Touts Impact of Black Turnout

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Study released a report Thursday that shows that the black electorate is large enough to sway 20 competitive House races in 14 states, including those for Reps. Bobby Bright (D-Ala.), Tom Perriello (D-Va.) and John Spratt (D-S.C.), who face some of the toughest races in the nation.

{snip} Those 20 races highlighted, mostly in Southern states, represent more than half of the 39 seats Republicans need for the majority, and they even include two seats currently held by Republicans–Delaware Rep. Mike Castle’s district and Louisiana Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao’s.

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“The extent of the Democrats’ losses will depend on their ability to turn out their most loyal voters, and no voting bloc will be more important to them than African-Americans,” David Bositis, the center’s senior political analyst, wrote in the report. “If they can mobilize a strong black turnout, the Democrats can significantly reduce their potential losses.”

The big unknown in these races–as it is every election cycle–is turnout among black voters.

The Democratic National Committee has launched a huge turnout program, spending $2 million to get black voters to polls. {snip}

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