By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

Posted March 25, 2008 – Every relationship has its highs and low’s, and the relationship between Bill Clinton and Black folks has hit a new low.   

A new survey by NBC News and The Wall Street Journal shows that the former president’s love fest with Black folks has hit a rough patch. That’s no surprise.  Developments on the campaign trail over the last 10 months have contributed to the decline, and neither political camp should be surprised.  

It seems the early signs of a deteriorating romance began during the primary season when President Clinton, while campaigning for his wife, blew his capital.  It all started to unravel with Black folks when the former president became the surrogate attack machine targeting her closest rival, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

The polls revealed that more than 45 percent of the respondents view Clinton negatively and 42 percent positively.  In comparison, in 2007, the 42nd president received a positive rating of 48 percent, compared with a negative rating of 35 percent.  This is a significant drop for the man once called the “first Black president.”

So what happened?

It’s a combination of things. First, Clinton overestimated his so-called Blackness and his political clout with African Americans.  He was confident his influence with the community would give him license to go after Obama and not sacrifice Black support. 

The next big gaff came days before the South Carolina primary, where Clinton likened Obama’s candidacy to a “fairy tale,” and followed up with a comment on Obama’s victory that implied Illinois senator won because he is Black.  Because South Carolina’s electorate is more then 50-percent African American, the former president credited Obama’s win to similar results in 1984 when the Rev. Jesse Jackson won the state.  

Clinton even went so far to offer up a “dream ticket,” leading into the Mississippi primary, suggesting Obama could fill the No. 2 spot on the ticket with his wife. And the put-downs continue from the former commander and chief. Just this week, he made comments Obama’s camp contend challenge the senator’s patriotism.

In August 2007 Obama was in the early stages of introducing himself to voters, and was struggling to win the African-American vote.  A poll by USA Today/Gallup taken then found Clinton’s lead over the Illinois senator had gained 8 percentage points in recent weeks.  Clinton was leading Obama with African-American voters by a 22-percent margin.

With the contest for the nomination still in play, one thing is for sure: The Black vote will not be taken for granted this time around.  
 

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