BlowBack^TM future post date: November 16, 2006

Contrary to the hopes of national Republicans, Ohio gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell and Maryland candidate for U.S. Senate Michael Steele garnered only 9% and 13% of the African-American vote in their respective races according to exit polling. Prior to the campaign, many in conservative circles believed that Blackwell and Steele would erode the overwhelming support Democrats had among black voters.

According to Republican pollster Bill McInturff, "African-American voters simply didn't embrace Blackwell or Steele as one of their own. These results show that when it comes to a general election, issues like healthcare and education have more bearing on who black voters side with than race."

"He's a cracker in disguise," claimed comedian and Ohio voter Dave Chappelle of Blackwell. "The guy says he's black, but I know for a fact that he didn't recognize R. Kelly in that video. If you watch that tape and you don't immediately think, 'dang, R. Kelly's doin' another teenager,' you may as well join the Sons of Italy."

When reached for comment, Steele lamented the fact that his message of personal responsibility fell short with black voters in the face of his ties to the Bush administration. According to Steele, "There you go bringing that Bush guy up again. Like I've said all year long, I don't know who that was that showed up to my fundraiser. He said he was a baseball executive from Texas, and I took him at his word."