Earlier this week, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies released a national poll of likely African American primary voters.
Black voters identified the war in Iraq as the most important national issue, followed by healthcare, and the economy and jobs. African Americans overwhelmingly believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.
The survey also found that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama stand head and shoulders above the other presidential candidates.
While black voters are paying close attention to the presidential campaign, there are few blacks in Iowa and New Hampshire. So, the South Carolina primary will be the first test of Clinton’s and Obama’s strength among black voters. With higher favorable ratings among black women, Clinton has an edge over Obama.
David A. Bositis, a senior research associate, analyzed the data. Dr. Bositis said:
If you look at African American politics, African American politics has a very significant slant in the direction of black women. In a typical election, black women are 60 percent of African American voters. If you look at black elected officials, about 36 percent of all black elected officials are women, which is higher than any other racial or ethnic group in the country. Among white women, the most recent number from Rutgers, it’s 22 or 23 percent.
In the fight for South Carolina's black voters, the beauty shop is ground zero (here and here). Sisters, be warned. Unless you want the whole world to see your nappy edges and roots, “wear your wig hat on your head” when you go get your hair done.
Hell, with Obama nipping at her heels, Hillary may decide to get her roots touched up in South Carolina.
