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Bush and the GOP gain with black voters: although most African-Americans still describe themselves as Democrats
Insight on the News, August 12, 2002 by Stephen Dinan
President George W. Bush and Republicans in general enjoy newfound popularity among African-American voters, according to a new poll sponsored by Black America's Political Action Committee (BAMPAC). The survey found that 41 percent of the 1,000 voters questioned approve of the job Bush is doing, while 44 percent disapprove. The BAMPAC's last poll, in March 2001, revealed a 19 percent approval rate and 45 percent disapproval rate.
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Still, less than one-quarter of those surveyed say the president probably or definitely deserves to be re-elected, while about one-half think someone other than Bush should be elected. "That's a good heads up for the White House: There needs to be a lot more work for the president in particular and the White House generally to do a lot more campaigning among African-Americans," says Alvin Williams, president and chief executive officer of BAMPAC, who points to Bush's actions on issues such as education and school vouchers as good steps in that direction.
The president's "deserves re-election" numbers among blacks contrast with polls of the overall electorate from April and May, the most recent available, in which one-half of the respondents said they would vote to re-elect Bush. It also contrasts with Bush's gains among Hispanics, who put Bush even with Al Gore in a hypothetical rematch, even though almost two-thirds of them voted for Gore in 2000.
Among the poll's other findings about black voters:
* 57 percent qualified as "pro-life"--those who thought abortion should be illegal in all or most cases--while 36 percent thought abortion should be legal in at least the first trimester for any reason.
* 51 percent attend church at least weekly, while 19 percent never attend church.
* Nearly one-half, 48 percent, say they would rather send their children to a private or charter school of their choice if given the chance, while 45 percent said they would keep their children in public schools.
Still, even though Republicans generally are more supportive of school choice, the vast majority trusted Democrats more than Republicans on education by a 61-9 showing.
Republicans as a group have made some progress among black voters. Of those surveyed, 34 percent say Republicans have "tried to reach out to African-Americans"--up from 28 percent in March 2001 and 18 percent in May 1999. Meanwhile, 49 percent say the Democratic Party has served the black community well--down from 61 percent in March 2001--while 40 percent said the party takes black voters for granted.
But 62 percent say they never have voted for a Republican candidate. And more than 80 percent said they favor the Democrats: 58 percent describe themselves as a "strong Democrat," 19 percent as "not-so-strong Democrat" and 7 percent as leaning Democratic.
Williams, though, believes the poll shows some slippage among younger black voters in their allegiance to the Democratic Party. "In our data among young, college-educated African-Americans, they are continually becoming disillusioned with the Democratic Party and demonstrating an independent streak," he says.
STEPHEN DINAN WRITES FOR Insight's SISTER DAILY, THE WASHINGTON TIMES. STEVE MILLER CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ARTICLE.
COPYRIGHT 2002 News World Communications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning
