Dems focus on black turnout

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Democratic Party officials are working hard to increase turnout of black voters for next week’s election, seeing it as crucial for a Democratic victory.

“If the turnout is good, we win — everybody knows that,” TV celebrity Star Jones said at an event for Senate nominee Ben Cardin in Prince George’s County Sunday afternoon. “This is our election to loose.”

Jones, a former co-host of “The View” talk show, also hosted a gospel music concert at Southern Baptist Church in Baltimore on Sunday night at which the statewide Democratic candidates spoke.

“People are excited about coming out to vote,” said Del. Carolyn Howard, chair of the Prince George’s delegation. “I think it’s the hope of the Republican Party to keep them away from the polls.”

Democrats are convinced that the concerns about the electronic voting machines being raised by Gov. Robert Ehrlich are attempts to suppress voter turnout.

“They’re using every method to keep down the vote,” Cardin told several hundred black supporters at a Mitchellville home. Voters in Prince George’s, which Cardin called “a critical county to this election,” need to be reassured that “their votes are going to be cast and counted.”

Sen. Gloria Lawlah, of Prince George’s County, said she thinks “people are beginning to get pretty excited,” talking about the election in church and the grocery store. “People are very informed about why they need to vote this time.”

In many majority black legislative districts in Prince George’s and Baltimore, the election is decided by the primary, so they want people to focus is on returning control of Congress to the Democrats.

That’s why several members of the Congressional Black Caucus attended the gospel concert, including Rep. James Clyburn, third-ranking Democrat in the House.

Jones emphasized that if Democrats regain control of the House, several African Americans will chair major committees and subcommittees, including the Judiciary Committee and Ways and Means.

“People do have a sense that we have a lot at stake,” said Donna Edwards, who came close to defeating Congressman Al Wynn in the primary.

“All of us are going to work on turnout.

“We’re looking for serious leaders,” Edwards said. “It’s not about puppy dogs — it’s about policy.”