Can Clinton Win Black Votes?

I don’t understand why this facet of the race is not focused on as much as Obama’s struggles with rural, lower-income whites. No Democrat can win the White House without black votes – and a lot of them. And yet, Clinton has gone backwards fast in this segment for the past three months. Remember last fall when she had a massive 20 or even 30 point lead among African-Americans? Remember when the Clinton brand was almost synonymous with major black support? And while Obama has done solidly – and increasingly well – among white voters, Clinton’s black support has cratered. Judging from my email in-tray, black voters are actually incensed and deeply disillusioned by the tactics of both Clintons. Bill has gone from being viewed as the first black president to being persona non grata and playing up his white Bubba act in rural counties.

This is a fatal weakness in a Democratic candidate. And Hillary Clinton is now a fatally wounded politician.