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+ FollowLouisiana: Melancon On Pause, Needs African American Voters
Representative Charlie Melancon currently challenges Senator David Vitter of Louisiana for the United States Senate seat this November. Melancon campaigns against Vitter in a low voter turnout year for Democrats. In the 2010 Louisiana primaries there was a statewide turnout of 7%. Thirteen percent of the state’s GOP came out, and 5% of Democratic/Independent voters decided to mosey on in. If lagging turnout and excitement continue in November, the numbers will not be kind to Melancon, who needs to move and shake his base.
The base of the Democratic Party in Louisiana is comprised primarily of African American voters. Two years ago, during the election of President Barack Obama, Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana was reelected with 96% of the African American vote in a banner turnout year for Democrats. On the top of the ballot was Obama and African American voters rushed to the polls.
To succeed, Charlie needs this same type of momentum.
In order to win, the Melancon campaign has to target and count a large percent of the African American vote. But, what is Rep. Melancon planning to do to turnout this vote? Melancon abandoned Obama whom he endorsed for President, recently stating at a forum in southwest Louisiana, “Let me tell you, I’m Charlie Melancon, I’m running for senate, if you want to vote against the president, you get to in 2 years,” Melancon told the crowd.
Melancon is not stomping in Louisiana African American communities. A large percentage of his plan, just as his previous campaigns, is to put a substantial sum of money into the hand of the state’s African American leaders and vote turners to churn out the African American vote. So far his campaign is mum on issues that affect the African American communities.
The NAACP’s report card for the 111th Congress rated Representative Melancon 72% out of 100% compared to Senator David Vitter’s 19%. The year before, in the 110th Congress he received 85% out of 100% compared to Vitter’s 14%. Melancon can blow his own horn in the state’s African American communities. But he does not.
Southern Democrats, including Charlie Melancon, will always count the African American vote in their vote goals but will walk a thin line in legislation benefiting those communities. Their campaign messaging is often crafted to persuade those in the middle to mid-right of the political spectrum. In a low turnout year, the Melancon campaign is failing to look beyond the middle of the spectrum.
According to a United States Census estimation of 2008, Louisiana is 1 of 18 states with over 1 million African Americans. A third of Louisiana voters are African Americans.
Melancon is on “pause” in this community. The speculation is that if Melancon supports issues that on the outside appear to benefit African Americans he will alienate himself from white voters.
There are many issues to rally the base of Louisiana voters and those particularly in African American communities. African Americans in good and bad times are unemployed at a 2:1 ratio to their white counterparts. Louisiana’s public schools are cornered by budget cuts.
As of right now Melancon is running on national issues. He recently presented a plan which cut taxes on small businesses and sought to balance the federal budget.
If Charlie Melancon does not rally his base, he will not have the momentum needed to press “play” and turnout African American Voters.
This article was written as a special contribution to Politic365 by Britton Lofton.
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4 Responses to Louisiana: Melancon On Pause, Needs African American Voters
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How can a candidate so reliant upon the black vote, take that vote for granted? Louisiana’s African-American members of the Democratic Party need to rally behind a candidate that WILL see to their needs & not just to their ballots. Afterall, how can one effectively represent those whose votes they do not respect?
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LouisiansWoman38 says:
I completely agree, I am live in Louisiana. I have not seen support for the president from this candidate. I am a registered voter and vote in every local election and I will not vote this time. His does not seem any different from Vitter, which I think will win again. African Americans are not going to vote for him because he has not reach out to us. He may very well be another vote for the Republicans anyway.
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neveragainamerica says:
that's what blacks don't seem to understand; that democrats are using them. and, we still think it's ok to vote for them, even though they have no interest in being beneficial to us. so, i say plfuck them and don't vote unless it directly benefits your community or issues that are universal to your benefit. these guys won't even be seen with us but want our vote. and, the most disgusting thing is they use the black ministers to help in their deceit.
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I completely agree with the author of this article. Melancon cannot automatically "assume" he has the black vote here in Louisiana. This post should be an eye opener for all democrats, incumbants and challengers alike, here in the south.