The GOP's Second African American Senate Candidate

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: The Fix (blog)
By Chris Cillizza
The GOP's Second African American Senate Candidate


Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele today became the second black Republican to announce a bid for the Senate this cycle, a decision GOP operatives are hoping will broaden their appeal to African Americans -- the most Democratic of voting blocs.

In his announcement speech, Steele cast himself as a bridge-builder between cultures, races and classes. "A bridge that not only brings both parties together but more importantly, brings all of us closer to one another," Steele said, according to the story written by The Post's Matthew Mosk.

Along with Steele, the GOP boasts another African American Senate candidate -- Rev. Keith Butler, who is seeking the GOP nomination to challenge Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) in Michigan. Both men are favorites to be their party's nominee. Steele will not face any serious primary opposition; Butler could face a serious primary challenge from Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, who was in town recently to meet with officials from the National Republican Senatorial Committee. If it becomes apparent that national GOPers are seeking to push Butler to the side in favor of Bouchard, who is white, it could damage the party's outreach efforts.

In 2004, two black Republicans sought Senate seats: Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain in Georgia and perennial candidate Alan Keyes in Illinois. Cain lost in the primary; Keyes, a last-minute substitute nominee against Democrat Barack Obama, received a meager 27 percent of the general election vote.

In the wake of the 2004 election, Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman put outreach to the African American community atop his list of priorities. He has done more than 30 events with black leaders so far this year, according to RNC spokesman Danny Diaz. "Chairman Mehlman is committed to ensuring that GOP stands for 'Grow Our Party,'" said Diaz....


http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/thefix/

[Cha]

1. Good Luck with supporting that

shit president(sic) of yours.

[goclark]

2. My Maryland Friends Hate Him and the Gov.

[gratuitous]

3. Question for Mr. Steele and Mr. Butler

Given that the president currently enjoys a 2% approval rating among African Americans, which is the statistical equivalent of no approval whatsoever, could you explain why you are so out of touch with the rest of your ethnic group that you would run as a Republican, the party of Jesse Helms, Strom Thurmond, Trent Lott and David Duke?

[zbdent]

4. So, what's the quota for Repub Black candidates?

Have they reached it yet? For them, it's probably two too many . . .