This will not be so much of a diary as a request for help with a project I am currently undertaking. I have just noticed that there are less than four months remaining to register to vote in Mississippi (and most other states for that matter).
Mississippi is a very interesting and diverse place. From the old historical mansions of Natchez in the delta region, to the northeast Appalachian counties, to the more cosmopolitan area of Jackson, to the coastal section (hit hard by Katrina), Mississippi seems to have something of interest for everyone.
Significantly, the state of Mississippi has been mentioned by some as a possible pickup state for Barack Obama in the general election. According to the latest Rasmussen poll, McCain leads Obama among likely voters 50% to 44%. A six-point deficit for a Democratic Presidential candidate in Mississippi is very encouraging; John Kerry lost the state by 20 points to George W. Bush in 2004.
It is my wish to conduct voter registration drives during part of the late summer in Mississippi and in order to do so, I am trying to compile as much information as possible.
Here are some examples of questions for which I am seeking the answers: Where in DeSoto County would be a good place to register pro-Obama voters? What is the biggest college in Mississippi? What is the most liberal town in Mississippi? Where would be some good place to register new voters? Shopping malls? Bars? Libraries?
I am of course looking to contact the Obama campaign and work in conjunction with them, but I am also looking to do my own research and register new voters in unlikely areas - like the rural Delta region for instance.
Here is a somewhat plausible scenario for Obama winning Mississippi. It would likely be very close, but if African American turnout were massive (40%), it's possible. As it stands currently, African Americans make up about 38% of Mississippians as a whole. In 2004, they made up 34% of voters on election day, according to the exit poll.
In any case, here is my scenario for Obama winning Mississippi:
It could conceivably look like this:
Obama McCain Barr/Other
White 56% 16% 79% 5%
Black 40% 94% 5% 1%
Other 4% 50% 46% 4%
Which yields:
Obama 48.56%
McCain 48.08%
Barr/Other 3.36%
So for all you Mississippians out there, I need your help! Thanks in advance.
This is the historic Melrose mansion in Natchez, MS which is located in the far southwest corner of the state. Natchez is a very old city, founded in the early 1700's.