Did Barack Obamas candidacy change the voting behavior of African-Americans?
President-elect Obama’s candidacy did not change the voting behavior of African Americans, as our research indicates that if blacks are able to get over the hurdles and barriers to registering to vote, they will, once registered, vote. What his candidacy did was to increase the number of blacks who registered to vote, thereby increasing the turnout among this crucial population Q – Latino voters seemed to make a difference for Obama in Florida and the southwest. Are we seeing the beginning of a new political force? I think it is incorrect to view Latinos, broadly defined, as a “new” political force, because their votes in New Mexico, Arizona, California and other western states, and their votes in Florida have always made a difference in local and statewide elections and in the determination of the electoral votes of these states in the presidential elections. The difference is the influence of Latino voters in states that have not been thought of as strong Latino population centers, l
