Dems hoping Clinton can boost black vote in La., other key Senate states

Former President Bill Clinton’s visit to Baton Rouge today to stump for Sen. Mary Landrieu is, in large part, about turning out the black vote on Nov. 4. As The New York Times reports, Democrats know black voters are key to their hopes of holding onto a Senate majority. That reality was highlighted in a confidential memo written earlier this month by a former pollster for President Barack Obama, which contained a blunt warning for Democrats as Election Day draws near: It predicted “crushing Democratic losses across the country” if the party does not do more to get black voters to the polls. “African-American surge voters came out in force in 2008 and 2012, but they are not well positioned to do so again in 2014,” wrote pollster Cornell Belcher. “In fact, over half aren’t even sure when the midterm elections are taking place.” Black voters could help swing elections in Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina and possibly Arkansas, an analysis of voter data by The New York Times shows, but only if they turn out at higher-than-forecast rates. In Louisiana, where Landrieu appears headed for a runoff in a three-candidate race, Democrats have worked to enlist more than 600 black and religious leaders to help with voter registration. And today brings the visit by Clinton, who remains hugely popular with black voters and spent the weekend in his native Arkansas drumming up the vote. He’ll appear with Landrieu at an event at the Hilton Capitol Center downtown that’s to begin at 2 p.m. Read the full story.