Jackson Free Press

Blacks prefer Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry over President Bush by a nearly 4-to-1 margin, though their support for the Democrat is down slightly from the backing Al Gore received in 2000, according to a poll released Tuesday.

Bush didn't get good marks for his handling of the war in Iraq or for his overall job performance, according to the poll of black Americans from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. The center is a Washington-based research group that focuses on issues concerning blacks.

Bush enjoys stronger support than in 2000 from those age 50 and older and those who consider themselves "Christian conservatives."[...]

The poll found Kerry receiving as much or more support than Gore among those age 18 to 25, those with less a high school diploma and those making $60,000 or less.

But Kerry had 49 percent support from black Christian conservatives, down from the 69 percent Gore enjoyed in 2000. Bush was at 36 percent among the group this year, more than tripling the 11 percent he got four years ago.

Republican officials say they are making a concerted effort this year to reach out to the black community. Campaign aides have cited Bush's support of school vouchers, public money that can be used to help pay private school tuition, and support of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage as issues that might win him more black votes.

About 48 percent of blacks surveyed supported vouchers, the same percentage as in the general population, according to the Joint Center poll. About 46 percent of blacks said there should be no recognition of a gay couple's relationship, compared with 37 percent for the population overall.

Previous Commentsshow

Certainly amusing that you stopped your excerpt before these lines that were next in the AP story: That has helped the president narrow the still sizable gap with Kerry among blacks, who preferred the Massachusetts senator over Bush, 69 percent to 18 percent. The group's poll before the 2000 election found Gore with a 74 percent to 9 percent lead over Bush. Only to pick the excerpt back up later when the story returned to verbiage favoring Kerry. You would have skewered the Clarion-Ledger for such sleight-of-hand had the omission favored a conservative or GOP candidate. Bottom line, from this poll GWB's support amongst blacks has doubled since 2000. Something you don't want to accentuate.

TC Stein

Oct 19 2004

Certainly amusing you overlooked the phrase within the first sentence: "though their support for the Democrat is down slightly from the backing Al Gore received in 2000". So, amuse yourself.

corrosiongone

Oct 19 2004