American Voices: African-American Voters

By: Tony Maciulis
Topics: Katie Couric

Tony Maciulis is a producer for the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

It was Katie's idea. "Let's talk to real voters, and hear what they have to say." We decided in a story meeting we'd focus on some key demographics, critical groups that could have an impact on the midterm elections.

My colleagues Matt Lombardi, Caroline Horn and I divided up stories. We talked to independent voters who were steadily slipping away from the Democrats in polls from the summer into the fall. We talked to unemployed people who have a personal interest in seeing the jobless numbers fall below the 9.6 percent mark where they've been hovering. We also spoke to the young people who helped make President Obama's historic victory possible. Are they still inspired to vote today?

More "American Voices" Reporting:

American Voices: Young Voters in Boston

American Voices: Independent Voters in Philadelphia

American Voices: Unemployed Voters in Ohio

Finally, tonight we'll bring you the last piece of our series...African-American voters.

It would take a geek who followed the 2008 race from start to finish to remember some of the early polling, but luckily we have them by the boatload at CBS News. I guess I'm one of them, because I remembered a game changer moment from the spring of 2007 when both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama appeared on the same day in Selma, Alabama. They went to commemorate the 1965 voting rights march. At the time, Senator Obama trailed Senator Clinton by a wide margin among black voters. Within in a month, they were tied. By early 2008, it was no longer a contest.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Campaign 2010

It's interesting to note that black voters continue to support President Obama in huge numbers. As others fall away, nine out of 10 African-Americans approve of the job Barack Obama is doing today.

But will they feel motivated to head the polls and support Democrats on November 2? We'll discuss that tonight. Historically, African-Americans have had significant impacts in the midterm elections, namely in 1986 and 1998.

Will this election be another 1998, or will Republicans party like it's 1994 all over again?

It remains to be seen, and I'm looking forward to an exciting election night.

Be sure to join us for Katie's broadcast tonight, and for all of our coverage, brought to you by, as we called them during the 2008 webcasts, "the best political team in the galaxy."

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by sherwoodmegan October 27, 2010 7:25 PM EDT

As a white American, I must say that President Obama has done a wonderful job. In our society, we tend to practice blaming others instead of looking at the truth of what is actually going on in our country. We must remember that each president that comes into office inherits the errors or shortcomings of the president leaving office. President Obama inherited a large amount of problems, yet he has worked none stop at trying to clean things up. He has kept all his promises, and unfortunately, we as a society don't like major changes when they come about. I think it is wrong of us to make this a racial issue... whether black or white, democrate or republican, who ever inherited the office would have to have dealt with these problems. If we remember, we all wanted change, the majority voted for Obama, we got new direction and now we are complaining.... Why can't we get it through our thick heads, work to heal our sick country and accept each other for who we are--- Americans!!!

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by s8nfighter October 28, 2010 7:40 AM EDT: And I thought I was the only one who thinks that the problem in America is the division. I have heard and read so many divisive remarks about our President I had to do a study on my own and the only faults I could find is that he really cares and he truly believes that the system does work.

Our President, and I repeat, our President is but one man. There are so many others spreading untruths it is almost impossible for one man to bring America together as One Nation Under God. I am not sure if the Health Care Bill is good or bad, but I do know if congress had worked as hard to make certain is was good as they did to oppose it, it would have been a great bill. Isn't that what they are hired to do, to work together as one unit?

America has proven to be a great country only because in times of trouble we come together as one. We cannot get through these hard times by listening to divisive words from people who make large sums of money adding fuel to the fire. It is time to turn a deaf ear to the people who say the system doesn't work, it is time to make it work.

Darrell