[Plummz]

in 2009, the black vote was 16% of the overall vote. In this last election, the black vote was 20% of the overall vote.

Do you think those were real votes, or did TMac pay for precinct workers in Richmond etc to stuff the ballot boxes?

[103198]

I believe they were real votes. The Dems got “suicide” candidates to run against solid Republicans for the House of Delegates to increase the black vote. I know the 65th and 60th House of Delegate Districts and they ran black candidates that got killed, but they brought in more black votes than if no one had run at all. Doing this in one District doesn't have much effect, but doing it across the Commonwealth in the “proper” Districts makes a difference - it adds up. The Dems actually won one precinct in the 65th that they only win in a presidential year (when they get out the vote) or when a black candidate is running. A very good strategy. The losing candidates will now probably get nice jobs in the TMac administration.