(Cross-post from GD): Disturbing results for Democrats from survey of black votesr

[YoungDemCA]

A new study suggests that Democrats can re-energize African-American voters even if President Barack Obama isn’t on the party’s ticket. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy.

The study, conducted by AFL-CIO affiliate Working America, analyzed why the black turnout in Ohio plummeted between 2012 and 2016, when election participation among African-American adults slipped from 72 percent to 62 percent. The drop — not just in Ohio but nationwide — was partially responsible for Hillary Clinton’s defeat to Donald Trump, especially in upper Midwest battlegrounds, such as Wisconsin and Michigan.

"If black voter turnout remains depressed in 2018, it will doom Democrats’ chances in Ohio’s upcoming elections for the U.S. Senate, governor and state legislature," the study said.

the study showed that only 8 percent of African-Americans interviewed in the state thought Obama’s absence explained the lack of enthusiasm; 46 percent blamed a dislike of both Clinton and Trump.

But reinvigorating this voter bloc first requires Democrats to shake its deep economic pessimism. Nearly half of black voters said they were somewhat or very concerned about their personal economic future, while just 33 percent said they were somewhat or very confident about it.

The outlook is even more dire when asked about the broader black community: 60 percent of respondents said they were worried about its economic future. Just 22 percent said they were confident.

"The conversations we had with working-class African-American voters in central Ohio are a wake-up call for Democrats," the study said. "Nearly a decade after the 2008 recession, many black voters say they’re still struggling economically."

More alarmingly for Democrats is nearly half of these voters, 48 percent, said it didn’t make a difference to their economic well-being if a Republican or Democrat was in office.

In its recommendations, the study highlighted what it said was the need for a bold economic agenda.

"Progressive politicians can distinguish themselves by fighting for a bold economic agenda that honestly addresses the deep anxieties of working-class voters of all races. Incremental solutions focused on narrow segments of the population are not compelling to workers worried about losing their jobs at any moment and experiencing community level distress," it said. "We must fight harder to win economic security for all working-class Americans."

http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article175422761.html

[cilla4progress]

1. HRC should have had a POC

on her ticket.

[lark]

2. This is irritating.

Everyone in the US (other than the 1%) did far better economically under Clinton (D) than previously. Wages went down and the economy plummeted under GW (R). Jobs came back under Obama (D), although not for as much pay as previously, and healthcare became a right. Now healthcare is being destroyed under Drumpf (R). How can anyone say the economy is the same regardless? Yes, I realize there are poor people, on Medicaid, and unable to work that probably feel little personal effect. But even for them, they have working relatives who have been impacted over the years. It's impacted me in the area of raises. When Clinton was in office, the economy was humming and I got a decent raise every year. Then GW fucked us up and raises stopped coming for years as actual purchasing power shrank. Then Obama took over and things started getting better and the raises returned, although smaller than before.

Just don't get it. Did they only interview young people?

[elleng]

3. "Progressive politicians can distinguish themselves by fighting for a bold economic agenda

that honestly addresses the deep anxieties of working-class voters of all races. Incremental solutions focused on narrow segments of the population are not compelling to workers worried about losing their jobs at any moment and experiencing community level distress," it said. "We must fight harder to win economic security for all working-class Americans."

[OilemFirchen]

4. And it had nothing to do with newly-enacted voting restrictions.

Not the elimination of a week of early voting.
Not the purging of hundreds of thousands of "inactive" voters from the rolls.
And not the death of the VRA.

Soldier on, navel-gazer!

[murielm99]

5. +1000