GOP Aims to Recruit Black Voters, Candidates

The Republican Party wants to woo the crucial demographic.

Recruiting Black Voters and Candidates - As the Black population in the U.S. continues to grow at a rapid pace, select members of the GOP have ramped up their efforts to recruit African-American voters and candidates in pivotal states. Keep reading to learn about the significance of the Black vote and several Republican recruitment initiatives launched thus far. — Patrice Peck with reporting from AP (Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman)

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Recruiting Black Voters and Candidates - As the Black population in the U.S. continues to grow at a rapid pace, select members of the GOP have ramped up their efforts to recruit African-American voters and candidates in pivotal states. Keep reading to learn about the significance of the Black vote and several Republican recruitment initiatives launched thus far. — Patrice Peck with reporting from AP (Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman)

A Growing Demographic - According to AP, birth rates among whites are shrinking in the U.S., while racial and ethnic minorities are projected to constitute a majority of Americans in about 30 years. Additionally, the number of African-American voters has grown steadily, from 12.9 million in 2000 to 17.8 million in 2012.(Photo: AP)

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A Growing Demographic - According to AP, birth rates among whites are shrinking in the U.S., while racial and ethnic minorities are projected to constitute a majority of Americans in about 30 years. Additionally, the number of African-American voters has grown steadily, from 12.9 million in 2000 to 17.8 million in 2012.(Photo: AP)

Rocking the Vote - Getting African-American voters on board has also become a huge priority for the GOP because in 2012, for the first time ever, Blacks voted at a higher rate, 66.2 percent, than whites, 64.1 percent, or Asians or Hispanics, with rates of about 48 percent each. In this photo, Leo Smith, minority engagement director for the Georgia Republican Party, observes a moment of prayer during a service for the 137th anniversary of Mount Zion First Baptist Church in Smyrna, Georgia.(Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman)

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Rocking the Vote - Getting African-American voters on board has also become a huge priority for the GOP because in 2012, for the first time ever, Blacks voted at a higher rate, 66.2 percent, than whites, 64.1 percent, or Asians or Hispanics, with rates of about 48 percent each. In this photo, Leo Smith, minority engagement director for the Georgia Republican Party, observes a moment of prayer during a service for the 137th anniversary of Mount Zion First Baptist Church in Smyrna, Georgia.(Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman)

Self-Identification - Seeing as how most African-American voters do not identify themselves as Republican (only 4 percent identified themselves as such in 2008 and 2012) very few of those votes in 2012 went to GOP candidates. In this photo, Leo Smith, right, minority engagement director for the Georgia Republican Party, talks with Rev. John C. Hearst following a service for the 137th anniversary of Mount Zion First Baptist Church in Smyrna, Georgia. (Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman)

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Self-Identification - Seeing as how most African-American voters do not identify themselves as Republican (only 4 percent identified themselves as such in 2008 and 2012) very few of those votes in 2012 went to GOP candidates. In this photo, Leo Smith, right, minority engagement director for the Georgia Republican Party, talks with Rev. John C. Hearst following a service for the 137th anniversary of Mount Zion First Baptist Church in Smyrna, Georgia. (Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman)

A History of African-Americans and the GOP - Shortly after slavery ended, more than a century ago, the Republican Party became the party of choice for Blacks. However, once Democratic presidents Harry Truman and Lyndon B. Johnson integrated the military and federal government, broke down segregation and bolstered Blacks’ voting rights, Black voters turned Democratic. As a result, the Democratic Party lost many Southern whites. With the racial demarcation came rhetoric that further deepened the chasm between the GOP and Black voters.(Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman)

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A History of African-Americans and the GOP - Shortly after slavery ended, more than a century ago, the Republican Party became the party of choice for Blacks. However, once Democratic presidents Harry Truman and Lyndon B. Johnson integrated the military and federal government, broke down segregation and bolstered Blacks’ voting rights, Black voters turned Democratic. As a result, the Democratic Party lost many Southern whites. With the racial demarcation came rhetoric that further deepened the chasm between the GOP and Black voters.(Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman)

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Considering the GOP - Some African-American voters said they voted in Mississippi’s GOP U.S. Senate primary last Tuesday to support an incumbent Republican candidate over a tea party contender, proving a willingness for some Black Democrats to consider voting Republican.(Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman)

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Considering the GOP - Some African-American voters said they voted in Mississippi’s GOP U.S. Senate primary last Tuesday to support an incumbent Republican candidate over a tea party contender, proving a willingness for some Black Democrats to consider voting Republican.(Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman)

Repulsive Factors - Yet, the GOP’s stance on economic issues and vitriol from conservatives and extremists directed at President Barack Obama and Black people are a few of the factors that have repelled African-Americans who may lean conservative.(Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman)

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Repulsive Factors - Yet, the GOP’s stance on economic issues and vitriol from conservatives and extremists directed at President Barack Obama and Black people are a few of the factors that have repelled African-Americans who may lean conservative.(Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman)

A New Day - Today, the party is spending $60 million to woo Black voters and launching a new initiative to recruit 300 women and 200 minorities to run for state and local offices, AP reports. In this photo, Leo Smith, right, minority engagement director for the Georgia Republican Party, talks with parishioner Annie Mae Dukes following a service for the 137th anniversary of Mount Zion First Baptist Church in Smyrna, Georgia. (Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman)

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A New Day - Today, the party is spending $60 million to woo Black voters and launching a new initiative to recruit 300 women and 200 minorities to run for state and local offices, AP reports. In this photo, Leo Smith, right, minority engagement director for the Georgia Republican Party, talks with parishioner Annie Mae Dukes following a service for the 137th anniversary of Mount Zion First Baptist Church in Smyrna, Georgia. (Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman)

HBCU Recruitment - College Republican chapters have begun popping up at historically Black colleges, like Morehouse College and Central State University, in an effort to encourage young voters to consider the conservative party. This photo shows Leo Smith meeting with, from second left, Michael McNeely, party first vice-chairman, Michael Roundtree, chairman of the Morehouse College Republicans and Jessica Hayes, district director for Republican Rep. Paul Broun, at the Georgia GOP headquarters in Atlanta.(Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman)

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HBCU Recruitment - College Republican chapters have begun popping up at historically Black colleges, like Morehouse College and Central State University, in an effort to encourage young voters to consider the conservative party. This photo shows Leo Smith meeting with, from second left, Michael McNeely, party first vice-chairman, Michael Roundtree, chairman of the Morehouse College Republicans and Jessica Hayes, district director for Republican Rep. Paul Broun, at the Georgia GOP headquarters in Atlanta.(Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman)

Trouble Courting Blacks - “We’re learning, we're stumbling,” Rep. Paul Ryan (not pictured) of Wisconsin, the GOP vice presidential nominee in 2012, told a group of Black journalists last month. In the meeting, he admitted that the GOP faced difficulties courting Blacks, but also insisted the party should receive a fair hearing. "I'm going to be clumsy on this; I already have been, and I'm going to be, because we're trying to break barriers that have existed for many years." (Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman)

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Trouble Courting Blacks - “We’re learning, we're stumbling,” Rep. Paul Ryan (not pictured) of Wisconsin, the GOP vice presidential nominee in 2012, told a group of Black journalists last month. In the meeting, he admitted that the GOP faced difficulties courting Blacks, but also insisted the party should receive a fair hearing. "I'm going to be clumsy on this; I already have been, and I'm going to be, because we're trying to break barriers that have existed for many years." (Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman)