Katrina could be critical to Texas primaries
With the March 4 Democratic primaries looming in Texas, much has been made of the Latino vote -- a significant 25% of the Democratic primary electorate there.
But in a close race, the key block may turn out to be a relatively new demographic in the Texas political landscape: Katrina evacuees.
In the wake of the 2005 storms, over a quarter million people -- largely African-American, almost all from Louisiana -- were displaced to Texas. One of the biggest destinations was Houston -- the place where Barbara Bush, while touring the city's hurricane relief centers, famously said of those who had been uprooted, "This is working very well for them."
How big of a factor will Katrina evacuees be? As we note in our recent report on human rights and Katrina, the government isn't keeping good data on how many of Katrina's displaced are still in Texas.
The Washington Post comes to the same conclusion in a piece today, but noted that the number seems to be significant -- and could have a decisive impact on the primary's outcome:
But in a close race, the key block may turn out to be a relatively new demographic in the Texas political landscape: Katrina evacuees.
In the wake of the 2005 storms, over a quarter million people -- largely African-American, almost all from Louisiana -- were displaced to Texas. One of the biggest destinations was Houston -- the place where Barbara Bush, while touring the city's hurricane relief centers, famously said of those who had been uprooted, "This is working very well for them."
How big of a factor will Katrina evacuees be? As we note in our recent report on human rights and Katrina, the government isn't keeping good data on how many of Katrina's displaced are still in Texas.
The Washington Post comes to the same conclusion in a piece today, but noted that the number seems to be significant -- and could have a decisive impact on the primary's outcome:
No one knows how many evacuees have registered to vote in Texas or how many will show up at the state's odd mix of primary and caucuses next week, but in interviews across this sprawling city almost everyone indicated an enormous desire to participate -- adding an unknown and potentially pivotal element in a race that polls show is deadlocked between Sens. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.).All the more reason for the Democratic contenders to put the Gulf Coast recovery on the 2008 election agenda.
Overwhelmingly African American, the evacuees are likely to bolster Obama's already strong support among blacks, who by some estimates could make up as much as 30 percent of the Democratic primary turnout in Texas, which is expected to top 1.5 million. In some urban precincts, evacuees could account for 5 to 10 percent of voters. [emphasis added]
Labels: barack obama, Election 2008, Gulf Coast Reconstruction Watch, hillary clinton, Hurricane Katrina, Southern Politics, texas
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