Underestimating Black Voters....

I've read several news pieces about Ken Blackwell automatically having some type of power to lure Black voters merely because of his race rather than his politics. In reading the above Cleveland Plain Dealer article, almost the same assumption is made when it comes to Ted Strickland:

Watch for Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Cleveland's powerful black Democrat, to endorse Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland as early as this week.

Tubbs Jones was joined by the following black leaders, who thus far have also withheld formal endorsements: Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin, and Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams. Political consultant Arnold Pinkney also attended the meeting.

Strickland is eager to claim their support because his Republican rival, Ken Blackwell, is black and is trying to woo black voters.

This made me think back to 2004 when supporters of Theresa M. Gabriel tried the "blood is thicker than politics" line to convince Black Democrats to vote Republican.

Granted there are uniformed Black voters just as there are uniformed voters of every race and Ken Blackwell would be the first Black governor of Ohio if he were to win but there's more to an election than just pride in one's heritage, race or sex. Personally I think that's an insult to the majority of Black voters whether it's by Blackwell or Strickland. I don't vote for a candidate because of his race or sex nor do I believe the majority of them do.

We've seen the same thing here in Toledo where it's assumed the inner city voters will turn out in large numbers to support a Black candidate. Maybe race was a small part of the times it has happened but it is much more likely it was the message not just the color of the skin that gained their support.