Obama Aims to Take Back the South

Democrats think they can win Dixie

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 30, 2008 8:22 AM CDT

(Newser) – Barack Obama thinks he can do something Democrats have found impossible for 40 years: win the South. Dixie has been bright red ever since the Civil Rights Movement, but it's also full of black and young voters who either aren't registered or don't usually vote. So the potential in demographic groups key to Obama's candidacy "is just incredible,” his deputy campaign manager tells the New York Times.

The math is daunting—Democrats lost every Southern state in 2000 and 2004, despite winning roughly 90% of the black vote. But Obama has more resources than past Democratic campaigns, which gave up on Dixie early. If his voter registration drives don’t significantly swing the math, he’ll need to win about 40% of white voters, which leaves the GOP confident. “It’s not like we’re talking about states that were won by one or two points last time,” one McCain adviser tells the Times. “These Southern states… were double-digit wins.”

Barack Obama speaks with General Motors Chairman and Chief Executive Officer G. Richard Wagoner, Jr., Thursday, June 26, 2008, at a competitiveness summit at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., listens to a question from a reporter during a news conference in Chicago Wednesday, June 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials in Washington Saturday, June 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Barack Obama smiles during a panel discussion with business, labor and academic leaders, Thursday, June 26, 2008, during an economic discussion in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

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Democrats think they can win Dixie

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Even Obama Can't Whistle Through Dixie

He'll lose because white voters will cancel out black turnout: prof

Scenes of the South's Devastation

Tuscaloosa looks something like a war zone

Toll Hits 47 in Southern Storms

Tornadoes, rain, hail pelt the region

South the Big Winner in New Census

Northeast, Midwest would lose seats if today's census was used

Obama the 'Unofficial' Winner in N. Carolina

Old Confederacy state a historic win for black president

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • Georgia • North Carolina • Virginia • demographics • South • black voters

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Even Obama Can't Whistle Through Dixie

He'll lose because white voters will cancel out black turnout: prof

Scenes of the South's Devastation

Tuscaloosa looks something like a war zone

Toll Hits 47 in Southern Storms

Tornadoes, rain, hail pelt the region

South the Big Winner in New Census

Northeast, Midwest would lose seats if today's census was used

Obama the 'Unofficial' Winner in N. Carolina

Old Confederacy state a historic win for black president

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Newser By Users

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