"'Historic year' for blacks in US races"--BBC

[Surya Gayatri]

"Michael Steele has an uphill battle to fight if he is going to win a seat in the US Senate on Tuesday.

He is running in Maryland, a strongly Democratic state, in what most people expect to be a Democratic year - and Mr Steele is a Republican.

/(snip)/

The Democrats who are backing him have two things in common with the Republican Mr Steele - they are from the same county, and they are African-American.

And in a state like Maryland - where the black population is about 30%, more than twice the national average - African-American support could make the difference between victory and defeat.

/snip/

But whether he wins or loses on Tuesday, he is part of an important trend, insiders say.

"This is going to be a historic year for black candidates regardless of the results," Democratic party strategist Donna Brazile told the BBC News website.

No fewer than five African-Americans are running for state-wide office this year - three Republicans and two Democrats.

There have only been five black senators in US history, and only one black state governor.
more at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6112124.stm