Posted by
William on Wednesday, July 05, 2006 8:25:16 PM
"The two Republican candidates for governor hope to win over black Republican voters, who could sway a close election. But they're also taking the unusual step of quickly reaching out to the overall black electorate, which traditionally has overwhelmingly voted for Democratic candidates."
I like that these two candidates for governor has recognize the black republican voters, however I disagree with how one of them are campaigning for the black vote.
here's how Attorney General Charlie Crist , the front runner in the race is campaigning for the black republican vote.
"Crist has gone to black churches and black community settings."
"Being there and listening is important," Crist said.
Here's how Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher is campaigning for the black republican vote.
"Gallagher's pitch to black voters centers on family values, morality and private school vouchers."
"I campaign the way I want to govern," Gallagher said. "I work for all Floridians. I think black voters relate to family and faith values. They believe that character matters." Gallagher said.
It seems to me that Crist is just another politician campaigning the best way he knows how to attract black votes. He is using the Democrat approach to gain black votes. The problem is that unlike the democratic party, the republican party doesn't have a large number of black voters they can relay on come election day. As a result republicans have to campaign in a different way to get the black republican vote.
If black republicans responded to candidates that go to "black community settings" and "black churches" to "listen" to them don't you think they would be a democrat? isn't this how the democrats campaign for their votes? So if you are a republican going after a different type of black voter (a republican one) why would you use the same approach?
Gallagher on the other hand understands the difference between a black republican and a black democrat. That difference is that black republicans care about "family values" and their child's education. They want their children to have the best education possible, and they see "private school vouchers" as an affordable way for their child to get the education they deserve. I'am not saying that black democrats don't want their children to have the best education possible, they are just supporting the wrong party when it comes to education policy. Gallagher's seems to understand the black community better then Crist. His approach comes off as more sincere then Crist's.
Points:
Crist 0
Gallagher 1
More information:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-pblackgop03jul03,0,7071385.story?coll=sfla-news-sfla