ATLANTA (AP) – Democrats are looking to black voters in two southern states to help limit Republican Senate gains in Tuesday’s midterms.
Early voting totals suggest the strategy could pay off for Sen. Kay Hagan in North Carolina and Georgia Senate hopeful Michelle Nunn.
In both states, early turnout has been strong in urban counties that are majority Democratic and heavily African-American. The question is whether black voters will be enough to counter Republicans’ advantage among whites.
Both parties agree that black turnout is a key variable, though Republicans remain confident.
Some conservatives accuse Democrats of race-baiting to energize black voters.
Many black voters, however, say Republicans first introduced race into the campaign with their nonstop criticism of President Barack Obama and push for more restrictive voting laws in several states.