Eyes will be on racial divide in Buckeye State

LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- As Vernon Finley stands among hundreds waiting for Bill Clinton to speak at a gymnasium rally outside Cleveland, the black teacher is very much alone.

"I'm looking around here, and I see maybe three or four other African-American men," he says, peeking out from underneath a Cleveland Brown's hat that's got a "Hillary" signature on the bill. "She just hasn't really done enough to reach out to us as a group."

The contrast in black support between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama has been undeniably striking throughout this drawn-out Democratic primary. But it is in Cleveland, the blackest city in Ohio, where that divide may make the most difference.

More Coverage Campaign journals Joseph Ryan from Ohio:Hot-button issues style="float:left; padding: 0 6px 0 6px" /> David Beery from Texas: Good time to be a Dem Stories Eyes will be on racial divide in Buckeye State [03/02/08] A fight to the finish in Ohio [03/02/08] No matter the choice, Texas voter turnout huge [03/02/08] Clinton does 'SNL,' but misses out on endorsement [03/02/08] Obama accuses Clinton of playing politics [03/02/08] In Ohio, the unions count [03/01/08] Texas Twist: State is #8230; complex [03/01/08] What makes the March 4 primary states tick [02/29/08] Clinton campaign raises concerns about Texas caucus [02/29/08] Video Ohio Voters Look for Economic Miracle Blacks make up a relatively small percentage of the state's population of about 11 million, but Cleveland is more than 50 percent black, according to 2006 census data. And because Ohio is key to either Clinton or Obama securing the nomination, the racial divide is expected to have a significant impact when voters go to the polls Tuesday.While it was clear Saturday that Clinton rallies were drawing an overwhelmingly white turnout, it was also evident that enthusiasm for Obama was contagious in Cleveland's black wards."A lot of African-Americans feel they will never see this day again," says Cleveland Councilwoman Nina Turner, as she helped organized a parade Saturday afternoon that quickly grew from a half-dozen cars to more than 20. "You can bet your bottom dollar Ward 1 is going to be voting Obama."Yet, much like in Illinois, when voters got to the polls in Ohio, race will not be the only thing on their minds.Finley, a retired Army officer, says he is backing Clinton because she seems best able to defeat Islamic extremism."Everyone thinks all African-Americans are going to vote for Obama," he says. "That is a lie."Clinton also has several black politicians supporting her in Ohio, including U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, whose district covers Turner's ward. The five-term congresswoman has been campaigning with the Clintons for weeks, and she is known to control an effective get-out-the-vote machine."She knows the value of a good ground game," said Jim Ruvolo, a Toledo-based Democratic consultant and Clinton adviser. "She is very popular, and she is fighting hard."Still, it remains to be seen if many black voters in Jones' district will follow suit.In earlier contests, the nod by black politicians has swayed few black voters. Obama has been winning them over by up to 90 percent in some states, according to exit polls.Moreover, several black politicians have recently fled the Clinton camp for Obama, some saying the move came after intense pressure from their constituents. U.S. Rep John Lewis, an Atlanta civil rights movement veteran, has been the most notable defector, but two black Cleveland councilmen also recently left Clinton's embrace.Clearly many whites are also supporting Obama. Illinois' junior senator has swept several states with very small minority populations, like Wisconsin.But like Chicago, Cleveland and other Ohio cities are clearly divided by racial lines. So many are watching closely how white and black voters split come Tuesday in the Buckeye State."Race is a significant issue within the city," said David R. Elkins, political science chair at Cleveland State University. "This is going to be one of those interesting questions the election will answer."