| Yes. The case of Washington is instructive. Republican mayoral candidates can win the almost all- white, upscale wards, in Northwest, and can make a good showing in the more integrated, middle- class wards, but they cannot make a dent in the two poorest wards. Marion Barry, on the other hand, could not have won after his disgrace if it were not for the almost total support he commands in those wards. But Tony Williams, who is a fiscally conservative, moderate black Democrat, could get the white vote, the educated black vote, and, in the general election, pull enough of the ghetto vote to win handily. The middle- class black vote is obtainable, and even the ghetto vote can be persuaded that maintaining the tax base and providing efficient services, instead of featherbedding and cronyism, is a better way to go. But it may take black candidates to make these points. We need to recruit more, especially from retiring military officers and non- coms....... |
