Advocates hope Ford spurs voter turnout
2006-10-31
Source: Tennessean.com
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rss feedBrandon Singleton believes that to mobilize African-American voters, the face of Tennessee politics needs to change.
For him, the new face is that of a young black congressman — Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr.
"He is a very strong representation that we definitely need," said Singleton, 25. "Not only is he a new face, he is an African-American face."
Singleton was one of more than 150 people who attended a nonpartisan "Get Out the Vote" rally Monday night, organized by the Interdenominational Ministerial Fellowship and held at the Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church.
While Ford's candidacy was a favorite topic, the event was meant to mobilize the community and encourage early voting.
"Tennessee has the ability to change the status of this nation," said Bishop George Price, president of the Ministerial Fellowship. "There's a train coming, and you don't need no ticket. Just get out and vote."
Turnout among black voters has historically been low in midterm elections, but many think Ford will bring out the vote.
About 37 percent of white Americans are regular voters, compared with 31 percent of black Americans and 24 percent of Hispanics, according to a recent survey by The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.
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