Support for Obama by African-Americans in North Carolina dwindling

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
6/13/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

President's approval rating is down from 86 percent to 77 percent

President Barack Obama has lost significant support among African-American voters in North Carolina. A recent poll out today from the Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling found that Mitt Romney would get 20 percent of the African-American vote if the election were held today, compared with 76 percent for Obama. Romney retains a 48 percent to 46 percent lead on Obama in the swing state.

The decline in African-American support for Obama comes as little surprise as it follows the general trend of voters in North Carolina.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Four short years ago, Obama received 95 percent of the support from African-Americans in North Carolina in the 2008 election. This stood out in contrast to the meager five percent for Republican nominee John McCain. In the poll conducted last month, Obama received 87 percent of the African-American vote to Romney\'s 11 percent.

Obama\'s numbers with African-Americans have recently been in a tailspin. The president's approval rating is down from 86 percent to 77 percent. Romney has been finding steady support from African Americans in the meantime, has doubled from nine percent to 18 percent.

Polling analyst at PPP Jim Williams says it could be \"statistical noise\" that comes with a small sample, He points out that only about 200 African-Americans were surveyed, but said it was not something the agency has \"ever seen before.\"

\"Seventy-something percent is obviously low,\" Williams told Business Insider. \"It\'s not something we\'ve ever seen before. It\'s definitely something we\'re going to monitor.\"

If the results keep turning up like this, it would be \"very bad news for him," Williams added.

The decline in African-American support for Obama comes as little surprise as it follows the general trend of voters in North Carolina. Obama led Romney by a point last month. Obama led by five points two months ago. Romney has also swung the important Independent vote to his side, turning a 13-point deficit in April into a one-point lead in June.

"There is a certain amount of racial loyalty and party loyalty, but eventually that was going to have to weaken," Andra Gillespie, a political scientist at Emory University, who studies African Americans says. "It's understandable given the economy."

African Americans have historically correlated approval ratings of the president to the unemployment rate, she said. The slip in the strongly favorable rating continues the decline Obama has seen among all groups, but black voters have been his staunchest supporters. Overall, they still hold a generally favorable view of the president.

Gillespie's feels that the decline is tied to the disproportionately high jobless rate faced by African Americans correlates with the drop in their view of Obama's handling of the economy. In July, only 54 percent of blacks said they thought Obama's policies were making the economy better compared with 77 percent the previous year.

� 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
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Keywords: President Barack Obama, African American support, polls

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1 - 6 of 6 Comments

Chastilene
9 months ago
As a Black woman, I, almost without really considering any other options, was unequivicably going to vote for Barack Obama. I did not feel that he had been given enough time to do the things that he had promised (and was trying) to do. Add to this the uphill battle that he faced through the entire almost 4-years with Republican opposition to his every attempted action. Due to this opposition, I, without a second thought, was going to vote for President Obama.

I have been unemployed, on and off, through the President's presidency; however, I am resourceful and would make work - find a need, fill it and get paid for it. Many other Americans have suffered the same. This is a state of country that was handed down by the Bush era, if we'll be honest about the whole thing. Then, it happened...

President Obama made the executive order to stay the deportation of illegal immigrants in our country and, furthermore, to grant them work visas - allowing them to openly compete with Americans in an already depressed job market. This is not right.

America, (or, the majority of Americans, that is) went into proverbial shock, all at once. Adding injury to insult, illegal immigrants (feeling invincible, it seems) increased the intensity of their marching through the streets of America demanding rights belonging to American citizens. As our collective eyes began to open, Americans (who, before, had been hypnotized by the propaganda being fed to us from those representing Mexico's interest) suddenly became aware that we had been invaded and our government officials bought and acting as puppets for the Mexican government.

Honestly, I love my President. He has represented many good things, although not perfect. However, he, too has caved in to the pressures from the Mexican government. Now, daily the talk of war grows as Americans prepare to protect ourselves, defend our country and make America a place where our children are considered first - actually have a future in our own country! As it stands, now, going in this direction...our children do not stand a chance.

So, for this fact, alone; I will vote for another candidate - knowing full well that Romney has the heart of the top % of richest people in mind and I will not be considered in his policies. However, we do believe that Romney will delay progression of the problems that we are having with illegal immigrants mass migrating, freely, into America.

Note: I am 100% for legal immigration and even have sympathy for many of the illegal immigrants, here. However, at what point do I put my emphathy for the illegal immigrants on the back burner when this empathy and empathetic actions are costing my children (and the children of other American citizens) a country of their own - one in which they too have futures?

I will vote the best interest of America. Many do and a growing number of other African Americans feel the same - all in the same boat.
Cmeflow2003
11 months ago
This black woman would never vote for a Mormon, you want to talk values, Mormon faith reject Jesus. Mormon faith for many years taught black people has NO souls and were cursed. That black woman is sticking with her president who has done much for this country even with all the ugly racist BS. You would be a fool to believe the hype and vote against you'[re own self interest being a black person.

The GOP plan was to pit blacks against the president. Don't let them play you.

Obama 2012
Diane
11 months ago
I'm not surprised by this. If you claim to be prolife, pro true marriage and pro religious freedom why would you vote for someone like Obama who has expanded tax payer funding of abortion even in foriegn countries,embyonic stem cell research, supported same-sex marriage as a civil right, urged the Senate democrats to "queer" the military and attacked the beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church through the laws of his unjust mandate? Obama is not" teflon" and these facts are going to cling to him for all of history and to everyone who supports him. Voting is an action. If you're going to talk the talk, walk the walk. Voting is an action and actions speak louder than words.
Rob
11 months ago
Todd, I have often complained about that as well. It's unfortunate when a Catholic site has to resort to gimmicks to make a point. But it's not limited to sites like this. It's basically permeated all news as they strive to shock and entertain.....facts are optional.
techwreck
11 months ago
Our black brothers and sisters were understandably willing to give Barack Obama the benefit of the doubt on 2008, given the history of discrimination they have suffered and the media cover-up of the real Obama during the campaign. But, a significant percentage of the black community is moral and traditional, and lives outside of the inner cities that have been morally decimated by the progressive programs of the federal government. This part of the black community is traditional, moral, and reflects President Obama's immoral stands on abortion and gay marriage, and North Carolina's black communities are representative of that group, as shown by the recent election on gay marriage. The 20% of NC blacks that oppose Obama represents a growing segment of the black community that reject what Barack Obama stands for, and feel betrayed by his shifting stance on moral issues.
Todd
11 months ago
I'm not making any sort of political comment either way and opinions should be expressed and discussed openly and freely. But the above picture of the president is no doubt meant to be demeaning. Am I wrong or is this a Catholic/Christian website? Let's be adults.

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