The District Chronicles

Issue date: 8/24/08 Section: Cover

Media Credit: Kenny Tracy/Staff Photographer

The mood of Black Republicans like Raynard Jackson should make presumptive GOP presidential nominee John McCain nervous.  Jackson, a government relations and political consultant based in DC, says he is not letting his lifelong Republican affiliation define him in the November presidential elections. He and many fellow Black Republicans in Virginia are voting for Obama to help him win the red state.

"I'm not going to be on the wrong side of history because of a party label," says Jackson, president and chief executive officer of Jackson & Associates. Jackson is also a radio personality, and his opinions have been featured in countless television shows and newspapers.

More than any other label, Jackson's heritage means the world to him, and he looks forward to the progress  Obama's presidency could make throughout the US and the world. 

Besides Virginia, Jackson hopes Obama will take Michigan, Ohio, Florida, and New Mexico, also considered traditional Republican strongholds. Except in 1964, when Democrat Lyndon Johnson beat Republican Sen. Barry Goldwater, Virginia has reliably voted Republican in every presidential election.  That will change this November, Jackson believes. 

"I think it's better than 50-50," he told the District Chronicles.  "Nationally, the mood of the country is anyone other than a Republican. People in Virginia are just tired of the Republican brand. They want to vote with a winner. 

A veteran political analyst, one key factor in Obama carrying Virginia will be the Black vote, Jackson says.  Obama's local campaign operatives seem to have that covered very well, he said.   Virginia is home to several historically Black colleges and universities -- Hampton, Virginia State, Norfolk State, Saint Paul's College, Virginia Union, Virginia University of Lynchburg, and Saint Augustine's College.  Students at these and other universities are mobilizing a Students for Barack Obama movement that has the potential to make a great impact, Jackson believes.

Another factor, he says, is the youth vote. There're more than 200,000 new voters registered in Virginia since January 2008, and almost 64% are under 35, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.  In addition, a recent SurveyUSA poll reported that among voters 18-34, Obama leads McCain 60 percent to 37 percent, and overall McCain leads Obama with 48 percent to 47 percent.  That's a mere percentage point, Jackson points out.

Continued...

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